In order to establish a better relationship between traders and manufacturers in the pharma sector, especially for business dealings without mediators, and to reach an understanding for supporting services to each other’s burning issues, the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TNCDA) is planning a new strategy involving all the manufacturing companies in the country.

To implement this strategy in the national level, the traders association will seek the support of the big and small manufacturing companies spread across India. According to information received, both the manufacturers and traders are facing problems arising out of price control by NPPA and consumer protection act.

Various organisations of both the sections of the industry and trade will jointly deliberate on the issues and find solutions benefiting both. With this in view, the first joint meeting of the doyens of manufacturing companies and leaders of TNCDA will be held in Chennai on April 28. About one hundred companies are expected to attend the meeting. Big players like Ranbaxy, Glaxo, Aventis, Cipla and Dr Reddy's Lab have agreed to attend the meeting, said KK Selvam, president of TNCDA.

According to him the traders plan to build a relation with the manufacturers for long standing business purpose. The meeting in Chennai is the first of its kind in the country and it will evolve future program of action. Issues including price control, consumer protection act,  trade margins, manufacturers’ support, unity among traders, tax problems etc. are in focus at the one day meeting, he said.

While briefing Pharmabiz about the programme, the president of the association said the turnover of the traders is decreasing recently due to many issues like price control by NPPA and the inadequacy of 15-20 per cent margins to run the business. Further, he said, one of the main objectives of the deliberation is to provide all support to the pharma industry for its overall development and to survive any crucial situation. The meeting will be like an interactive seminar which will be attended by all the stakeholders of the industry from Tamil Nadu, he added.

“We have invited IDMA, PMA, CIPI and all the trade associations comprising wholesalers, distributors and retailers into the meeting. About 85 manufacturing companies are expected to participate in the meeting and 80 companies have confirmed their participation already. Last week a preliminary meeting was held at hotel Savera, and the general secretary of TN-IPA, J Jayaseelan briefed us how to proceed. Our primary aim is to help each other for our survival,” said N Anandan, the secretary of TNCDA.

When asked about the involvement of AIOCD, he said the future course of action will be decided and implemented in all the states with the support of the national trade body.