Expressing strong objection to the pharma bandh call made by All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) on October 14, the All India Chemists and Druggists Federation (AICDF) declared that their members will not participate in the strike and keep open their shops on the day.

In a letter to sent to the chief minister of New Delhi, the president of AICDF, Kailsh Gupta, said that his organisation will stay behind the ailing community on the day by maintaining smooth supply of all sorts of drugs through their members.

The organisation has requested the chief minister to take necessary actions for emergency services of medicine supply to keep it uninterrupted. It has given all support to the government on the day of AOICD’s strike for alternative arrangements with the support of AICDF to overcome any crisis.

Meanwhile, Gupta has agreed that the pharma trader are passing through a crisis due to the recent proposals for amendment for drug policies by the central government. However, AICDF wants to solve all problems through discussions with the government rather than holding national pharma bandh which will adversely affect the health sector.

Gupta said in his letter that E-pharmacy is an imported concept and it will not be adaptable for the country in the existing scenario. But, to solve the problems faced by the traders, they have several forums to hold discussions.  Supply of essential drugs and other life saving drugs is necessary during the time of spread of dengue fever in the capital territory and AICDF members do not want to interrupt the supply of medicines for the sake of humanity.