Many times it must have happened that you were diagnosed properly by the best doctor at the right time and prescribed the best medication. But you landed up getting the right medicines kept under wrong storage conditions. Result. you did not get any relief and blamed the doctors knowledge and wrong diagnosis or went to another doctor. Address the right problem. Public should rise up and raise a voice to ensure that the corrective measures are taken immediately and the entire distribution channel is air conditioned not only the retail pharmacies.

1. Either the government that passed the earlier order of making air conditioner mandatory as per the recommendation of Dr.Mashelkar committee report (set up by the Union Government) was wrong, and if at all they were wrong, will the FDA take back all the air conditioners that were purchased during the period when the FDA was not granting license without an AC till last month? Government authorities cannot act in such an irresponsible manner.
2. If this regulation was wrong what made the authorities sleep for so long?
3. In fact, this year only J.S.Shinde, General Secretary, All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists, had written to me that the awareness about the need to put an AC is increasing and the distributors and stockists have also started installing ACs , vissi coolers etc at the counter.
4. If putting the AC is not financially viable for this trade then let people not get into this trade. Because they have no right to gamble with the life of the common man & the medical profession. As the medicines are to be essentially kept under cool conditions (some of the medicines essentially have to be kept below 25°C) otherwise their efficacy is reduced. It may be as good as not taking medicines. Why sell them at all if they are not kept under proper temperature.
5. FDA has to implement the standards and not work for the profitability of the retailers. The wellbeing of patients & doctors professional commitment should be paramount. Just because 32000 chemists are unhappy with the rule,scrapping the AC from the shop cannot be justified. If the customers are educated as to why an AC is a must I am sure that there can be PIL from some of the consumer rights activists and doctors. There will be a hue and cry from crores of people across Maharashtra.
6. Now if the traders say that selling genuine medicines is not financially viable so they have started selling spurious drugs with higher margins. Will the FDA allow that as well at the cost of the patients lives. Glaring to note, according to leading media investigations, 25 to 30 per cent of the medicines sold in India are spurious?
7. FDA should ensure that all the non-air-conditioned chemists display prominently on the front that: 'This chemist is not air-conditioned. Customers may take note of the same before buying medicines at their own discretion'. Taking medicines from a non AC outlet may be more serious an issue than chewing tobacco. So warning is a must.

Regarding the 50-metre rule:

That no future licenses will be given for chemists within 50-metre of an existing chemists. Reason: To check unhealthy competition.

1. Will there be a guarantee that in such a scenario unhealthy competition will not exists at 51 metres? If a fly sits on your nose. According to the FDA, Maharashtra you should cut your nose and not chase the fly off.
2. It is the fundamental right of every Indian to pursue any lawful activity / business anywhere in the country. FDA is going against the constitution of India. Moreover, this rule is ridiculous, unfair and unreasonable. Suppose I have a place and I am a pharmacist. I cannot do business because FDA will not grant me a license for the so called 50-metre rule. What do I do? Will the FDA compensate me by granting me a fixed income per month as It is not allowing me to do the business which I should be doing? or do I go and finish off the chemist 50-metre away so that I can ensure that FDA gives me a license.
3. It is the duty of the FDA to ensure that illegal / unethical things are not done, rather than limiting the number of chemists. Competition leads to creativity and delivers better value to customers. Competition is always merciless on the inefficient.
4. Suddenly this order has been issued without giving any time to people. I know more than 30 people who have decided the premises and are already committed to getting into this business. What will happen to their investment if the FDA applies the 50-metre rule? FDA should consider giving ample of time for the same.
5. I am sure that FDA is a government regulator and works for the best interests of crores of common people and not for the 32000 chemists of Maharashtra or as a personal fiefdom of RDCA.

The author is executive director & COO of Medicine Shoppe India