With the talks between Government and striking truckers failing to find a solution on Thursday, the fear of a possible shortage of life saving drugs is likely to be a reality. As the movement of drugs from the manufacturing units' remains totally disrupted for the forth day in succession, Delhi based drug companies have indicated presence of surplus stocks. The shortage is to be visible once the drugs already in the retail supply chain gets exhausted, they say.

Commenting on the situation, Sandeep Nangia, organizing secretary of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) said that the wholesalers and the retail druggists would be having stocks for another week but not more. "The strike, if continues for another week is going to create a serious crisis here. The availability of fast moving drugs will be affected," he said.

He pointed out that the companies are trying to supply light goods through couriers. But for liquid stocks, there is no alternative. Pharma companies with manufacturing units in and around Delhi are already in trouble. Eli Lilly, Ranbaxy, Pharmacia are all known to be affected by the ongoing strike.

The nationwide stir has been called by All India Motor Transport Congress on 10 demands including their protest against the implementation of VAT.

The strike, which entered the fourth day today, has already seen a surge in prices of fruits and vegetables in most of the states.

The demands of the association include putting an end to frequent hike in diesel prices, immunity from a planned Value Added Tax, repeal of an order to scrap 15-year-old trucks and fixing of minimum freight rates.