Even as the government of Kerala has not reached a conclusion as how to procure and distribute medicines at cheaper rates without involving wholesalers, the national president of the country’s largest pharma trade body, All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD),  J S Shinde called on the Chief Minister Oommen Chandi at his office and submitted a memorandum suggesting ways to control the price rise of essential drugs without hurting the interests of the trade, it is learnt.

Shinde met the chief minister and the health secretary along with AKCDA leaders, Antony Tharian and Abdul Gafoor, but refused to meet the health minister Adoor Prakash whose brain child is the new drug policy soon to be implemented in Kerala. Shinde requested the government not to exclude the wholesalers’ community from the drug distribution system.

In an interview with Pharmabiz, the health minister said the AKCDA national president and state leaders have made a suggestion before the CM that they would procure medicines from the manufacturing companies at lower rates and supply to the government agency on 30-40 per cent discount. The government is planning to sell all the drugs through the government outlets, Neethi Medical Stores, Maveli Medical Stores and the outlets run by Hospital Development Councils (HDCs). Shinde and other trade leaders have assured the chief minister of their influence with the manufacturing companies in India and capability to supply medicines to Kerala State Medicinal Supply Corporation, so that the wholesalers will  get also get a  role in the state’s drug distribution system.

When contacted the AKCDA secretary Antony Tharian, said that they have requested the chief minister that the companies who have expressed  willingness to sell low-priced drugs to the government, should supply the same products at the same rate to the wholesalers, so that they can also sell the medicines on a uniform price fixed by the government through their outlets. If so, he said, there will be a uniformity in price for all medicines in all the retail shops both government or private.

In the memorandum given to the chief minister by the traders, it is suggested that government can concentrate on speciality drugs (high-priced medicines) used in the treatment of cancer, kidney diseases, cerebral disorders and surgeries associated with heart, liver and such other vital organs. Further it can take steps to market medical and surgical implants, devices used in administration of drugs such as syringes, I V sets and catheters. These items may be purchased from the manufacturers/importers at best prices and sold through notified outlets at lower rates.

In the discussion with the chief minister, the all India trade leader, Shinde has said that creating a parallel marketing set up for all medicines across the state will be against natural justice as it is against the principle of level playing ground.   Further they apprised the chief minister the fact that nearly one lakh families depend on pharma trade for their lively hood in Kerala.