The Bangalore District Druggists and Chemists Association (BDDCA) and all its affiliated 7 units represented by 3,000 medical shops strongly condemn the irresponsible bandh call given by the Karnataka Druggists and Chemists Association (KDCA) for closure of all chemists shops in the state on December 10 and 11.

The BDDCA requests all its members to keep their premises open on both days and serve the ailing public. The BDDCA has presented a memorandum and its view points to the Karnataka drugs controller seeking for certain changes in the present drug laws as well as redefine the major and minor offences under the Drugs Control Act of 1940.After due deliberation with the Drugs Controller, BDDCA is convinced of the pragmatic view adopted by the Drugs Control department and its officials. In view of continuous dialogues on the subject, the BDDCA refrains its seven units from the bandh call and have decided to co-operate with the government/drugs controller/drugs control department and serve the public and maintain continuous flow of medicines.

In a statement, V Hari Krishnan, president, BDDCA has pointed out that no single instance of members dealing in spurious drugs, has been reported for which the government and the public is equally concerned. "BDDCA extends full cooperation to weed out the menace," he said.