The All India Chemists and Druggists Federation (AICDF) has lodged a complaint with the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) against the Indore based C&F agent of Mankind Pharma Ltd, Ahmedabad for breach of adherence to the provisions of Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO).

According to the complaint, the office of the CFA is not following the directions given by the national price regulator in carrying out drug supply. The complaint is that Mankind Pharma has stopped supply of essential medicines to Gwalior based Singhal Trading Corporation without any valid reasons as mentioned in the act and rules.

To an earlier complaint filed by the trading agent (Singhal), the office of the national price regulator has directed the managing director of the company to resume supply of drugs to the agency, or else it would be taken as violation of para 28 of the DPCO, 2013. NPPA had clearly mentioned in its letter to the company that there should be good and sufficient reasons like non-payment of wholesale/retail license, non-availability of stock or non-payment by the agency for discontinuing the medicine supply.

The national regulator has wanted the company to furnish the reasons of the stoppage of medicines, especially life-saving drugs, to the Singhal Trading Corporation.

Joydeep Sarkar, national general secretary of AICDF has informed Pharmabiz that despite there is strict order from the regulating authority and repeated requests by the agency (Singhal), the carrying and forwarding agent of Mankind is not resuming the supply. He said it shows the arrogant attitude of the officer in-charge of Indore office and his actions are against all ethics of drug trade.

He said either the competent authority (NPPA) or the head office of Mankind has not directed him to restart the supply. The C&F wants the proprietors of Singhal to approach him directly in his office in Indore without talking over telephone, Joydeep wrote to the NPPA.

Further, it is mentioned in the complaint that the CFA is arguing that since the letter of NPPA is not marked one copy to the state drugs controller of Madhya Pradesh in whose jurisdiction his office is functioning, he is not supposed to comply with the order of any central regulator. He will only abide by the directions of the state enforcement authority, as said in the complaint by AICDF.