The All India Chemists and Druggists Federation (AICDF), a national organisation of drug traders, has decided to take on Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) in its move to conduct inspections at medical stores with inspectors deputed by state pharmacy councils.

The decision of the Federation has in fact come in support of the agitations undertaken by the All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA) to oppose the move of the Kerala State Pharmacy Council in carrying out inspections at medical stores.

AICDF general secretary Joydeep Sarkar from Kolkata said his organisation wants government of India to enact a law to separate drug stores from the purview of pharmacies. He claims that the retail medical stores are not pharmacies, but only drug stores which are operating under the strict supervision of drug control officials.

He says that as long as the drug stores remain as a pharmaceutical business shop, the pharmacy council has no right to inspect their premises, whereas the drug control officials can inspect any time. According to him, pharmacy council cannot execute the provisions of a drug act or rule.

The Federation warns the PCI and the state pharmacy councils that under the pretext of implementing Pharmacy Act, if the pharmacy councils proceed with the plan of carrying out inspections continuously, AICDF will strongly oppose the move and non-stop protests will be conducted all over India by closing down chemist shops. The drug business is a service by the traders for the health and welfare of the people in the society.

Accusing PCI for its failure and weakness in coordinating the drug traders and winning their confidence, Joydeep said the Pharmacy Practice Regulations 2015 were framed by the council by putting the traders’ community in dark. This is an offence from the side of the council. AICDF will bring this issue for discussion in the national level at appropriate time and also bring it into the attention of the Union government. He said there are several irregularities to be pointed out from the side of the PCI and his Federation will not remain as a silent spectator to such wrongdoings in future.

AICDF has units in West Bengal, New Delhi and Tamil Nadu. No other state unit has much support from the traders.

In the year 2011, AICDF in association with Kolkata based Academy of Pharmacy Management and Guidance (APMG) had started a six months diploma course in pharmacy. But PCI did not give approval to the course and announced that those who were pursuing the APMG course would not be able to register as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948. Joydeep Sarkar was the director of the APMG during that period.