The Chennai-based independent registered trade body of pharma wholesalers and retailers, ‘Chemists and Druggists of Chennai’ (C&D Chennai), is vehemently opposing the Union health ministry’s proposal to amend D&C Rules to make only registered pharmacists eligible for getting wholesale licences.
 
C&D Chennai, which is affiliated to Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TNCDA) for national issues, has come out with an open remark of disapproval of the draft proposal because of the deliberate silence and inefficiency on the part of the leaders of the TNCDA in taking steps to resolve crucial issues affecting the trade industry, it said.
 
T Natarajan, general secretary of C&D Chennai, said his response to the amendment issue is on behalf of the 3,000 members, including wholesalers and retailers, of his independent association. However, it is alleged that, the voices of the more than 40,000 retailers and wholesalers having membership with TNCDA still remain unheard.
 
C&D Chennai will soon pass a resolution demanding to the central government to withdraw from its decision to amend the D&C Rules 1945 in order to make only registered pharmacists eligible for getting wholesale licences. He said the draft proposal of the Union health ministry is totally against the reality prevailing in the country at present.
 
According to him, the attempt of the Union government to amend the Rules is unwanted because there is no need of a full time qualified pharmacist in any wholesale shop. No communication is done or information is exchanged between a patient and a pharmacist in a wholesale shop.  No direct sale is taken place there. Information about medicine use, if any required, is shared with the patient by retail pharmacist only, said Natarajan who runs the Janaki Pharmacy at Adyar in Chennai.
 
“Everybody is aware of the fact that there is acute shortage of registered pharmacists and no necessity for appointing a full time pharmacist in a wholesale store. So, the decision of the government to make registered pharmacist competent person to avail wholesale licence is unnecessary. It is the retailer who dispenses medicines on a prescription to a patient directly and we agree that the dispensing should be done under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. In a wholesale dealer’s shop, no direct sale is taken place”, he said.

According to C&D Chennai, the medicine traders in the country are now facing a lot of challenges from all corners. Increasing number of pharmacy shops under various agencies, chain pharmacies by corporate managements, emergence of on-line pharmacy, Jan Aushadhi stores etc force many trade units to close down. Now the government’s plan to mandate the licences for wholesale trade to only pharmacists will lead to closure of many wholesale agencies and the situation will cause for severe shortage of all kinds of medicines in the market. He said the newly enrolled pharmacists are not willing to work in a retail shop, but wants a government job or job in the corporate sector. All the retail and wholesale shops are not financially viable to engage full time pharmacists in the present situation of increasing number of medical shops in the urban as well as rural areas.
 
He said C&D Chennai strongly opposes the move of the union government to amend the drug rules and the association will send a memorandum to the union health minister requesting to reconsider the decision.
 
Meanwhile, several members of the TN CDA said they will support the C&D Chennai for its decision to approach union government since the state branch of the AIOCD is keeping mum on the issue. Many members of the TNCDA from the southern districts are planning to join C&D Chennai expressing support to its demand to the government, it is learnt.
 
While speaking to Pharmabiz, a retailer from Kanyakumari district said he will bring a resolution to the next AGM of TNCDA, which is slated for the 29th of this month in Madurai, demanding expulsion of its general secretary and administrative secretary from their positions, considering their incapability in organizational work.