The Bangalore District Chemists & Druggists Association (BDC&DA) has urged the Karnataka government to exempt pharmacy trade from seeking FSSAI license to sell nutraceuticals and protein powders among other related tablets and capsules.

The chemists and druggists are only selling packed products of nutraceuticals and protein powders manufactured by companies. The packs are not tampered with. We also do not market these in a loose form. So there is no question of seeking an FSSA license which is specific for  manufactures, said V Hari Krishnan, president,  BDC&DA.

At the BDC&DA annual convention, Krishnan called upon the state government to ensure that pharmacy trade fraternity is kept away from the same. On the occasion, he delved on the impact of online pharmacy business model affecting the retail fraternity. He also mandated every prescription to have  Medical Council of India’s registration details.

The state government should also look into the pricing of drugs sold at Jan Sanjeevani outlets at 50 percent of the cost when it was labelled at the original price. Besides address the issue on disposal of expiry dated drugs. Our state drugs control department also requires a dedicated legal department with qualified experts on law, he added.

Dr Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary, department of health and family welfare who was present at the convention, said there was need for clear communication channels between pharmacy trade and the government. All efforts would  be made to clarify on the need for a FSSA license for the pharmacy trade when it was merely engaged in the marketing a packaged product.

With regard to the Jan Sanjeevani pricing discrepancy, Dr. Rajneesh called on the chemists to partner with the government’s agenda to sell quality generic drugs at affordable prices.

A seminar-cum-workshop on goods and services tax (GST) was held during the convention  to clarify issues on excise duty, value added tax (VAT) and credit closing on stocks. The BDCDA president pointed out that while GST regime would bring in the much-needed accountability and transparency, the small retailers were finding it difficult to comprehend the new tax regime and needed guidance from the state commercial taxes department.

“Pharmacy trade needs to know the process for refund of excise duty and VAT. Moreover with the frequent  NPPA price revision, GST cannot be implemented. Besides GST levy should be printed on all medicine packs”, stated  Krishnan.

Rithvik Pandey, commissioner, Karnataka commercial taxes department said free downloadable software from NIC for any retail service to transit to the GST era was available. His department was all set to provide every assistance to the chemist fraternity.

Karnataka drugs controller BT Khanapure said that even if there was a price difference on drugs sold at Jan Sanjeevani, all medicines were not available here. Eventually patients accessed neighbourhood chemists and druggist outlets indicating their valuable service to ensure uninterrupted medicine supplies.