A group of pharma retailers in Kerala has floated a new association, the All Kerala Retail Chemists and Druggists Association (AKRCDA) which will soon form District Co-Operative Societies to directly purchase drugs from companies and sell on discounted rates on the lines of the Kerala State Medicinal Supply Corporation (KSMSC).

Promoters’ committees for floating cooperative societies in each district have been formed and inauguration of the first district society will be held in Kannur in next week, said Sanal, who is the convener of the apex body of the societies.

Secondly, the society in the state capital will be opened on 30th of this month. In every district a ‘Retail Forum’ is being formed to support the work of the promoters committees. The apex body formed by selected members from each district society and office-bearers of AKRCDA will be the organ to control these societies.

Sanal said when the societies start operating, the existing three tier system—C&F Agents--- Distributors---Retailers will vanish from the state, and in its place a new system will emerge. The work of C&F will be carried out by the apex body, the distributors’ roles will be taken over by the district societies and retailers will sell the products on a uniform price system. When asked if the other trade bodies like AKCDA or AICDF raises objection to this move, he said it is the duty of the government to make facilities for the benefit of the people.

According to him the societies will sell products at the same rate fixed by the KSMSC and support of the government is being sought to procure medicines through KSMSC. The people can purchase medicines from the government medical stores and from the outlets of these societies on same rates. All the drugs will be sold on 20 per cent discount as fixed by KMSC. He said because of discount at the outlets of Medical Services Corporation, the sales at the retail shops have decreased immensely and the new price system introduced by the societies will help survive the present crisis faced by the retailers.

The Association has approached the state government expressing willingness to sell medicines at lower rates provided the government agencies provide medicines for their shops purchased directly from the companies. The prices of the medicines will be fixed  by the government only.

President of the new trade body Alex Varkey said the objective of launching a new organisation in the state is to avoid wholesalers from the organisation of chemists and druggists. “We want to be free from the clutches of the wholesalers. We want an independent body of our own led by our members,” he said.