The lingering tussle between the Maharashtra FDA and the pharma traders in the state has resulted in the shortage of medicines in the market including drugs for diabetes, asthma, blood pressure, blood thinners, TB and those with digestive disorders as the stockists have stopped purchasing fresh stocks from the first week of June onwards.

Some of the major drugs which are not available in the market include injection Huminsulin 50/50 (Insulin)), Lupisulin-R, Galvus Met (50+500), Metformin, Glimepiride, Vildagliptin (15 mg) and Kombiglyze XR for diabetes, Asthalin Inhaler for asthma, Stamlo Beta, Olmesartan and Atenolol for blood pressure and Rifampicin and AKT 4 for tuberculosis.

Sharing some information about the scenario, owner of a medical store in Thane on conditions of anonymity said, “At any given time, major outlets like ours have supplies of essential medicines to last for a month or two. There is at least a 30 per cent shortage of medicines in the city because of the new notification to regulate the prices of 150 new essential medicines."

Echoing similar concern, Pankaj Shimpi, representative of Mira Road Chemist and Druggist Association informed, “We are falling short of life saving medicines because stockists have stopped purchasing medicines and the scenario would be more grave by the end of June.”

The pharma traders in the state have been up in arms against the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) ever since the government agency in early this year embarked on a state-wide crack down on chemist shops which operate without a qualified pharmacist. The tussle between FDA and traders, including the stockists, took a turn for the worst when the FDA, as per Competition Commission of India's (CCI) order, started taking action against the pharma companies which refused to supply medicines to distributors who have not received NOC from the traders' association, All India Organisation of Druggists and Chemists (AIOCD).

The traders are further angered over the new Drug Price Control Order (DPCO – 2013) which will reduce their profit margin in case of retail business from 20 to 16 per cent and in case of wholesale business from 10 to eight per cent.