Post CM urge, medicine dealers not to take part in strike against e-pharmacy draft Bill

Kolkata: Responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's direction, the Bengal Chemist and Druggist Association (BCDA) is not taking part in the nationwide strike on September 28 against the e-pharmacy draft Bill proposed by the Centre.

According to a senior official of the BCDA, there will be no shut down of medicine shops in the state. The retail and wholesale supply of medicines will remain unaffected in the state as medicine stockists and dealers have agreed not to go on strike, as it would have an adverse effect on the people.

Sankha Roychoudhury, a senior official of the BCDA, said: "The Chief Minister had urged us not to take part in the nationwide strike against e-pharmacy draft Bill of the Centre. Hence, we have decided to organise rallies as a token of protest. We may submit a deputation to the Governor in this regard mentioning the ill-effects of the proposed Bill. All the medicine shops across the state will remain open on that day."

If the proposed Bill is implemented, people can directly buy medicines from the manufacturers through various online shopping portals. As a result, people, particularly the youths can buy medicines which are not sold in the market without a prescription.

According to the BCDA, medicines cannot be sold in this manner. Terming the Center's move as irrational, the senior members of the organisation said that many people would become jobless if the Bill is implemented. Rallies would be conducted in all the districts of the state on September 28 as well.

"Many members of the young generation will indulge in ill practices if the various prohibited drugs are sold through e-pharmacies. Hence we do not support the Bill. The protest movement would be continued till the Centre withdraws the proposed Bill.