Chemists, druggists close shops in Shivamogga, stage protest

Many aesculapian shops successful Shivamogga remained closed connected Wednesday successful effect to a nationwide onslaught called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, opposing the online merchantability of medicines and the menace posed by steep firm discounting practices.

Members of the Shivamogga District Chemists and Druggists Association unopen their establishments for 24 hours arsenic portion of the protest. Shops attached to hospitals and clinics, however, remained open.

Association representatives gathered successful beforehand of the Deputy Commissioner’s bureau and staged a dharna, raising slogans against the online merchantability of medicines. They besides demanded enactment to curb predatory discounting by firm pharmacy chains and stricter measures to forestall the circulation of spurious and substandard medicines.

Association president Madhukar S.P. said the online merchantability of medicines had been permitted during the COVID-19 pandemic done a impermanent notification, but the bid had ne'er been withdrawn. This, helium said, had allowed the proviso to beryllium misused for the organisation of spurious drugs and scheduled medicines without a prescription.

Office-bearers of the relation and owners of the aesculapian store participated successful the dharna.