Chemists call for strike against closure of 3 shops within MKCG hospital 

Berhampur: The Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association (UCDA) has called for a district wide bandh of all medicine shops in Ganjam  protesting  the closure of three medicine shops on the premises of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

The association has asked all the chemists in the district to shut down their shops on January 13.

"There are guidelines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act & Rules to conduct inspection and take action on medicine shops. Three of our shops have been closed without any reason, therefore we are calling for bandh of all medicine shops in entire Ganjam district on January 13," said P Satyanarayan Babu, President, UCDA.

On the other hand a few representatives of the association will meet the district collector today to find out the reason behind closure of the medicine shops and resolve the issue.

The association has also alleged that as all the medicines are not available under the Niramaya Yojana, relatives of patients arriving at the hospital are finding it difficult to get medicines.

Meanwhile, attendants of patients also had to suffer due to late night closure of the shops by the district administration.

"I have arrived at the hospital with a patient but the medicine shops are closed," said relative of a patient, Sulochana Gouda.

Earlier on Wednesday night, Ganjam district administration had sealed three medicine shops located on premises of the MKCG Medical College and Hospital over alleged irregularities in records. A team including Additional Tehsildar and Drugs Inspector raided the shops and examined medicine stocks and documents.

It is worthwhile to mention that, after the Niramaya Yojana was launched, the State government had asked the shops to close. However, the shop owners moved the Orissa High Court and received a stay order on the government’s decision.

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