Pharmaceutical wholesalers have suspended medicine supplies to more than 100 Apollo Pharmacy shops in Mumbai and Thane in protest against the unhealthy trade practices indulged in by the Apollo stores. Apollo Pharmacy is the largest pharmacy chain in the country with over 300 outlets spread over 17 states across India. It has been offering 10 per cent discount to its customers under the loyalty programme.

Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association (PWA) president Dilip Mehta said that the wholesale dealers are agitated over the unhealthy practice of offering 10 per cent discount on medicines by the Apollo Pharmacy chains in Mumbai. There are more than 100 Apollo pharmacy shops in Mumbai and retail traders in the surrounding vicinity of these Apollo Pharmacy shops are getting adversely affected by this unhealthy trade practice, he said.

Mehta said that the retail traders are getting a net margin of 5 to 7 per cent and they cannot offer 10 per cent discount to compete with the Apollo Pharmacy chain. There are two options before the retailers located around the Apollo Pharmacy. To either to offer 10 per cent to survive or close down. So, the wholesalers decided to suspend medicine supply to Apollo Pharmacy to discourage them from the unhealthy competition. The boycott of Apollo Pharmacy started a week ago, Mehta said.

If the Apollo Pharmacy, which is part of the Asia's largest healthcare group Apollo Hospitals, sources medicines directly from the drug companies, the PWA will oppose such a move by the companies. The PWA is discussing the issue with drug companies to discourage them from doing direct business with Apollo Pharmacy.

Apollo Pharmacy has been active in pharmacy trade in the country for the last more than 25 years since its inception in Chennai in 1983. It provides a wide range of pharmacy, surgical, disposables, anti-cancer, life saving and general healthcare products and nutritional supplements.