Shillong, Apr 29: The Meghalaya Healthcare Association (MHA) has extended its support for a nationwide protest initiated by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), scheduled for May 20 in addressing long-standing critical issues impacting the pharmaceutical sector and public health.
MHA president David Kharsati said that the protest represents the voices of over 12.40 lakh chemists and distributors across India. Despite multiple memorandums submitted to various governmental bodies, including the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health, there has been a lack of concrete action.
The AIOCD has put forth several pressing demands, including a request to curb the illegal operations of e-pharmacies and to withdraw specific government notifications that are viewed as detrimental to the pharmaceutical trade. Concerns have been raised regarding the aggressive discounting practices by large corporations, which disrupt the established drug distribution systems and threaten public health.
Among the issues highlighted are the sale of medications without valid prescriptions, the rising incidence of fake prescriptions, and the provision of antibiotics without proper oversight. The AIOCD emphasised that these factors pose significant risks to patient safety and the livelihood of chemists across the country.
