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Bhubaneswar: The newly elected office bearers of UtkalChemists’ and Druggists’ Association (UCDA) on Sunday demanded that the Union
Government should bear the losses the chemists and druggists are suffering
after the implementation of Union Government’s National List of Essential
Medicines (NLEM) policy.
“The traders and wholesalers are suffering a lot. Following
a Supreme Court order the Union Health Ministry and Chemical and Petrochemicals
Ministry have jointly prepared the NLEM in which 348 molecules are
included. The National Pharmaceutical
Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised the MRP of these 348 molecules resulting
in affecting the profits of retailers and wholesalers,” said UCDA general
secretary Prabir Kumar Das here at a Press conference.
a Supreme Court order the Union Health Ministry and Chemical and Petrochemicals
Ministry have jointly prepared the NLEM in which 348 molecules are
included. The National Pharmaceutical
Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised the MRP of these 348 molecules resulting
in affecting the profits of retailers and wholesalers,” said UCDA general
secretary Prabir Kumar Das here at a Press conference.
Earlier, chemists had a 20 per cent margin on all sales but
the new drug policy reduced the margin by 6.25 per cent which adversely affect
us, said Das.
the new drug policy reduced the margin by 6.25 per cent which adversely affect
us, said Das.
“Even though the Centre has relaxed a total of Rs 3,600
crore on MRP on these medicines for general consumers, we are the end sufferers
losing Rs 3,400 crore from our margin for the purpose annually. Hence, the
Government should bear our losses, said Das.
crore on MRP on these medicines for general consumers, we are the end sufferers
losing Rs 3,400 crore from our margin for the purpose annually. Hence, the
Government should bear our losses, said Das.
“It is very welcome step to provide medicine to
consumers at cheaper price but it should not be done by reducing profits of
traders and wholesalers,” said UCDA president Prasanta Mohapatra, urging the
Union Government to protect the margins of the chemists’ fraternity.
consumers at cheaper price but it should not be done by reducing profits of
traders and wholesalers,” said UCDA president Prasanta Mohapatra, urging the
Union Government to protect the margins of the chemists’ fraternity.