As the All India Organization of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) called a nation wide strike on Tuesday, 25th March, the Mumbai-based trade associations, Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association (PWA) and Retail & Dispensing Chemists Association (RDCA) have made arrangements for emergency medicine in the interest of patients.

In case of emergency requirement of medicine, the public can contact the Association at 24948625/24948630, informed a press release.

The one day strike was called by the AIOCD to invite government attention to their demands like simplification of VAT rule and implementation of the same in true spirit, treating chemists as a custodian of health not criminals, granting immediate set off on tax paid inventory as on 31.03.2003 etc.

The pharmaceutical traders have also demanded for making maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes, treat medicines under 4 per cent tax category, abolishing octroi/ surcharge/ Tot/ cess on medicine, avoiding separate audit for VAT return, exempting retailer from VAT and scrapping CST.

The press release added that the agitation will be strengthened more if government not responding sympathetically.