Bangalore District Chemists & Druggists Association (BDC&DA) affiliated to the Karnataka Chemists and Druggists Association (KCDA) and the Bangalore City Chemists and Druggists Association(BCC&DA), an affiliate of the KCDA are divided on their participation in the one-day nationwide strike called by the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) on May 10.

While the BDC&DA has taken a decision to support the strike, the BCC&DA is planning to refrain from the strike because of the prevailing unhealthy and stiff competition coming from the pharmacy chains in the city.

The day long country-wide strike organised by AIOCD intends to force the Union government to ensure that there is no reduction in the trade margin as indicated in the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy (NPPP) which was released in December 2012. The proposed strike also seeks solutions for pharmacists related issues, bring relief to the Drug Act Amendment 2008 and withdrawal of the permission for foreign direct investment in pharmacy trade.

“We are not going into any of the merits or demerits of the issues put forth by the AIOCD. But as a trade body we are supporting the call of stride and all chemist shops in Bengaluru coming under our Association numbering 3017 will be closed between 6 am and 4 pm. It will be open after 4 pm with business as usual, V Hari Krishnan, president, BDC&DA told Pharmabiz.

There will be no efforts to organise any hunger strike or processions highlighting the demands, he added.

The Association is determined not to inconvenience the public and has taken a decision to exempt all the hospitals and nursing homes in Bengaluru city  which have in-house pharmacies to make sure that all drugs used in emergencies, will be made available for the patients, said the president of  BDC&DA.

On the contrary, the other chemist body BCC&DA, an affiliate of the KCDA has taken a decision to defer its decision to participate. “The main reason not to support the strike is that there will be efforts from the pharmacy chain shops to grab our business and woo our customers to their outlets and we do not want to lose our share of sales to them,” said Ravindhera MJ, general secretary, BCC&DA.