Retail chemists in Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra are in no mood to comply with the state FDA order asking installation of air conditioning in their premises. The deadline set by the state FDA for the installation of air-conditioners is December 31, 2004.

The Maharashtra State Chemists & Druggists Association (MSCDA) has asked for an extension of the deadline by another two years, that is, 2006. According to it, high unit cost of power in the state makes it extremely difficult for the retail chemists to install AC in their premises. Moreover, MSCDA officials point out that many provisions in the FDA circular are not clear and are confusing to chemists.

In a recent letter to Maharashtra FDA commissioner Uttam Kobragade, MSCDA has stated - "Assuming that 2000 units are consumed (by chemists) in a month during 12 hours shift a day the electricity charges would come to Rs 11,200 per month. The FDA's circular is not clear whether AC should be on during night time also. If FDA insists so, the electricity bill would be a whopping Rs 20,000 in a month," said the letter. This will be unaffordable for the chemists, adds the letter.

"We are requesting for an extension of the deadline by another two years. Medicines being essential to common man, power supplied to chemist should be at a consessional rate on par with that of residential premises or hospitals, and not at commercial rates as applicable now. Thus the power burden could be minimised to half," said a highly placed MSCDA official.

Meanwhile Maharashtra FDA commissioner Uttam Kobragade warned the chemists against non-compliance. "Our inspectors are going to act strict if the norms are not complied with before the deadline. Public health is our top priority and in no way the deadlines will be extended," he said. "Every norm has been clearly laid down in the circular. We will resort to cancelling of licenses of the shops if ACs are not installed before the deadline," he added.

According to sources, around 2,000 shops in Grade A&B municipal limits (including 150 in Mumbai) have received fresh licenses in the last 18 months. All these shops are functioning with AC.

"New licenses are issued only if the AC compliance is met with. From our estimates, all new shops are AC complied," said MSCDA sources. Even before the FDA made it mandatory, there were 400 AC chemist shops in Mumbai.