A move is on to remove A N Mohan, current president of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) from the position following the recent action by the Kerala Drug Control Department cancelling licenses of his distribution companies.

The state affiliate of the AIOCD, now running under an ad hoc committee after the Kerala government's action against the malpractices of the then office bearers of the state unit, has reported the latest legal actions against the AIOCD president to the AIOCD office here.

With the cancellation of the trade licenses, Mohan could no more hold any position in the state of the national traders' body, according to trade sources. Although resigned as the president of AKCDA after the state government's action against him and the state body for alleged corruption charges, Mohan is still holding the charge of AIOCD president.

"Normally, only a member in any of the district or state affiliate who is representing any of the committee in the association can hold the charge as office bearer in AIOCD. A person who does not have a chemist's license is not legally or morally eligible to handle any position in AIOCD," said a senior member of AIOCD. He said that the issue of the current president would be discussed in the upcoming meeting of AIOCD expected by the end of March.

The Drugs Control Department of Kerala cancelled the licenses of two companies, Poonam medicals and Poonam Associates under the proprietorship of Mohan and his wife respectively, on February 13, 2008 for violation of various norms under Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Later, the Department cancelled the license of Access Pharma, a drug distribution firm in which he was a partner. On February 14, the Department has also cancelled the license of DT Associates, a distribution company run by Ravindran, who was general secretary of All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA).

The charges against the companies are primarily on violating rules under D &C Act including stocking of drugs without proper storage conditions and lack of proper billing. Further, the authority has also cited that by virtue of holding the position as office bearers of AKCDA, Mohan and Ravindran have prevented smooth distribution of medicines in the state through various activities including bringing in boycott against pharmaceutical companies and AKCDA members for establishing an upper hand in drug distribution system, informed the state drugs control officials. "The authority may move forward to put the functioning of the second line leadership of the association under scanner in coming days," an official told Pharmabiz.

However, the companies have appealed the state government to stay the legal action, since the appeal authority for the issue is the state Ministry of Health. According to officials, the companies can also move legally to attain a stay order from the court if the ministry also stands with the decision of the drugs control authority.

It may be recalled that the efforts of a few members from AKCDA to overhaul the existing working system has resulted in serial raids from the drugs control authority in November 2007.