The Mumbai based Hospital and Institution Suppliers Association (HISA) has made its formal protest against Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association (PWA) alleging the latter has influenced the pharmaceutical companies to stop supply to HISA members.

The protest comes as the part of the ongoing dispute between the two groups of pharmaceutical traders as the HISA is closely working with the newly formed traders association - All India Chemists and Druggists Federation (AICDF) - even as PWA is a well known affiliate of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).

In a letter to the PWA, the HISA leaders alleged that various pharmaceutical companies are approached by the former association seeking stoppage of medicine supply to several of the latter's members. The association will consider legal action against PWA or its members in future instances, said the association officials.

The association reinstated that it will not comply with the requirement of NOC (No Objection Certificate) and LOC (Letter of Cooperation) from PWA or MSCDA (Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association) for appointment of new stockist. The comment comes in the backdrop of the AICDF's allegation against AIOCD that it has made mandatory certification from the latter for appointment of new stockists by the pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, the HISA offered its support to PWA to propagate fair and ethical business for the interest of its members.

However, the PWA officials denied all the allegations made by HISA as baseless and explained that it has no relation with NOC or LOC, which was raised by the rivals. The association also welcomed the views of ethical business in its reply.

The letter shows that the battle between the two national associations is taken up by their supporting arms. While AIOCD is the pioneer in bringing in unity among the unorganised pharmaceutical traders sector with a claimed strength of more than 5 lakh members, AICDF was formed as a rival group to oppose the methods of operation of the former.