City chemists won’t take part in tomorrow’s strike

NAVI MUMBAI: Although retail and wholesale chemists in Mumbai have indicated a shutdown on November 11 following the consistent crackdown by the state consumer protection body, the Navi Mumbai Retail Chemists and Wholesalers Association have decided to not participate in the strike.

However, the constant drive by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on chemist shops in the city for the last month, together with stricter rules has had its share of impact on the residents.

An FDA team from Thane has been keeping a constant vigil on chemist stores to check for violation of prescribed norms such as selling of restricted drugs over the counter, not issuing bills for medicines sold and not having a qualified pharmacist.

“After the survey, around 56 shops were served show- cause notices for a mismatch in the sale and purchase of medicines, sale of certain scheduled drugs that can be only sold with prescription. Of these, the licences of 10 shops had to be revoked for operating without a qualified pharmacist,” said an official from FDA, Thane.

As per the Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1940, it is mandatory for chemists to employ individuals holding a Diploma in Pharmacy ( D Pharm) or a Bachelors i n Phar macy (B Pharm) to dispense pharmaceuticals. According to officials, the administrative processes were on to scrutinise all shops in the city.

“If the rules are followed by

AN FDA TEAM FROM THANE HAS BEEN KEEPING A VIGIL ON CHEMIST STORES TO CHECK FOR VIOLATION OF PRESCRIBED NORMS

the chemists and consumers, there will be simpler solutions in case of discrepancies,” said Sunil Z. Chhajed, general secretary of Navi Mumbai Retail Chemists and Wholesalers Association.

Meanwhile, chemist shops in the city said although they try their best to follow the norms, very often the customer is in a hurry or does not care about a bill.

“A majority of customers are in a hurry and just want to take the medicine and leave. We, however, make it a point to draft a proper memo with the patient and doctor’s name and insist that they wait for the bill,” said a pharmacist from a chemist shop in sector 9, Vashi.