The All India Chemists and Distributors Federation (AICDF), the new all India organisation for pharmaceutical traders, is all set to roll out its operations. The Federation will be shortly contacting pharma companies for their co-operation and support. The Federation has also decided to oppose the organised retail chains and the entry of multi-nationals into drug distribution business in the country.

As the part of setting up its operations, AICDF is completing the registration process under the Indian Societies Registration Act 1860. The Federation will soon contact the pharma industry associations including Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) along with sending letters to all the pharma industry majors seeking recognition, according to AICDF sources.

"We would appeal the industry associations to communicate any trade related issues with us, as a national trader's body. The Federation will assure that we will not confront with the pharmaceutical companies and associations and would like to work together for the progress of the industry," said Prem Ranka, general secretary of AICDF. He added that the Federation, in its letter to be sent within a couple of days to the industry associations would seek correspondence from the companies before bringing in major change in the individual company's distribution policy.

The Federation will put its efforts to communicate with the government and the industry to convey its views and suggestions related to pharmaceutical trade in the country. After finding affiliates in almost all the 28 states, the federation has also finalised its constitution and is expected to initiate its work within two weeks, added Ranka.

The Federation will oppose all the retail chain pharmacies along with programmes to counter the entry of multi national pharma distribution chains into the country. AICDF will soon submit a memorandum to the central government demanding cessation of issuing distribution license to the MNCs and retail chain organisation. "As the organisation of unorganised pharma distributors, we have to protect our members from crashing down amidst the battle with organised retail giants," said the source.

The Federation is planning to submit a memorandum to the Union ministries of chemicals and health seeking subsidy for the pharma traders in electricity expenses, as the government is imposing the standard storage conditions from top to bottom of the pharma distribution chain. With the government strictly implementing the cold chain management in distribution sector, the chemists shop has to spend huge amount per month for electricity, which would be a burden for the retailer by and large, said the AICDF official.

In a recent meeting, the Federation has elected the office bearers on ad hoc basis till the end of March 2009. The meeting elected Kailash Gupta from Delhi as the president and Prem Ranka from Chennai as the general secretary of the federation. Narendra Jain from Mumbai has taken charge as the secretary-company affairs and Shantichand Gulecha from Chennai as treasurer for the federation. Joydeep Sarkar (Kolkatta), Pragati Mohanti (Orissa), Sanjay Malhotra (Uttar Pradesh) and Ashok Khandelwal (Madhya Pradesh) are the other office bearers.