Kerala chief minister is understood to have assured the drug trade body (AKCDA) that the state government would favourably consider its demand seeking to stop inspection of medical shops by pharmacy inspectors after discussion with the state pharmacy council.

Prior to their march and sit-in-protest before the office of the Kerala Pharmacy Council on August 19, the office-bearers of the All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association led by president A N Mohan met the chief minister Oommen Chandi at his residence and submitted a memorandum urging him to intervene in the matter.

The president of AKCDA wanted the CM to direct the pharmacy council stop its inspections at the medical stores. Besides, the association leaders apprised the chief minister of the serious problems faced by the traders owing to the checking of pharmacy council deputed staffs at the retail shops in addition to the inspections of the drugs control officials.

In the memorandum the traders mentioned that if the government would not solve the issue amicably within one month, they would down the shutters of their shops and go for strike from September 23. The situation would create non-availability of drugs throughout the state and the health sector would totally collapse. After going through the memorandum, the chief minister forwarded the same to the health minister for immediate action, said Mohan.

The decision of the state pharmacy council to conduct inspections in retail medical shops has already met with strong opposition from the traders across the state. The traders are demanding the government that they should get freedom to carry on their business. According to AKCDA, medical stores should be separated from the ambit of pharmacies. The council can send their inspectors to the pharmacies and inspect the premises. The traders are licenced only for selling the medicinal products and not for dispensing.

More than 2500 members of AKCDA from all the 14 districts assembled at the state capital to attend the protest march and the dharna before the pharmacy council. Meanwhile, traders’ associations in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and in some north Indian states are gearing up to protest against inspections by pharmacy inspectors.