As the 15,000 odd druggists and chemists in Karnataka state observed a strike today, almost all retail and wholesale stores remained closed in most places except the city of Bangalore. The Karnataka Druggists and Chemists Association (KDCA), which called for the two-day bandh on December 10 and 11, witnessed stray incidences of violence in Bangalore, as most shops were open. But the strike has paralysed the 26 districts in the state.

The Bangalore District Druggists and Chemists Association did not participate in the bandh and hence the KDCA members were seen forcing drug outlets in some parts of Bangalore to bring down the shutters, stated V Hari Krishnan, president, BDDCA.

The bandh was called by the KDCA to protest against the action of drug inspectors from the state department. In the wake of the bandh call Karnataka Drugs Controller, Dr Suresh K Muhammed stated that the department's mandate was to ensure the supply of safe and effective medicines at prescribed rates. He appealed to the chemists on strike to refrain from observing the bandh in the interests of the public.

While launching consumer awareness campaigns to ensure that chemists abide by the order of the state drugs control department, criminal investigations were initiated under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 against erring chemists who were found violating the Act, stated the drugs controller.

In November 2003, a total of 152 investigations were conducted against chemists in the state. Out of the 152 inquiries, 74 cases were for stores that did not have a qualified pharmacist manning counters. The 38 cases were booked against those who sold drugs under Schedule H without prescription and 40 of them who violated both requirements of not having a pharmacist and selling Schedule H drugs.

"All these investigations were conducted with the sole intention of providing safe drugs to the customers," informed Dr Suresh Muhammed.