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Mangaluru: Protest against online sale of drugs – good response for medical stores bandh

  •   Sat, Sep 29 2018 09:18:44 AM

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DC)

Mangaluru, Sep 29: The bandh called by All India Chemist Association to protest against the online sale of medicines received good response in twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi on Friday, September 28.

Over 625 medical stores in Dakshina Kannada and as many as 400 medical shops in Udupi district downed their shutters in protest against the Central government’s move to regularise the sale of medicines online.

The closure impacted the availability of necessary drugs and life-saving medicines to the needy people in twin districts. In Vittal few medical shops were open defying bandh call.

In Udupi Janaushadhi centres were open.

Since the medical stores in hospitals and nursing homes were open, patients admitted at hospitals did not face any inconvenience.

Most of the medical stores opened in the evening.

Response was good for the bandh in other parts of the state also. 
  

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Comment on this article

  • SANJAY, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 30 2018

    Modi Government cannot create jobs and the people who invest and run business he want to close them by promoting online medicine sales.
    Modi sitting at the center is taking wrong decisions.
    Hope people understand that uneducated persons ruin the country, only his work is propagated by media to the common man by misleading the actual facts.
    Then they ask to prove when he is caught , Example Gujarat riots... He was washed clean.

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    I am for online medication sell.Here too many pharmacists protested against online selling.Becuase localones profit a lot with of course only pharmacyst can handle and sell the medicine.They sell even non priscreibable medicines like aspirn or pain killers at high rate and have profit.But it didnt help.Now even medications with priscription are sold online .One has to send priscription to them and they cash from health insurance.In normal too but we have to pay for every priscription a amount of 5-6 Euros depending on how big packing is. Many order online their medicines.Pharmacists have earned enough till now.Now time for open trading freedom.Its not a communist land.I have seen in India they pack medicine in a paper ,you dont know the date of expiry .even medicies with expiry date are sold.Pharmacist explains it works noneed to worry.Is it the way to sell medicnes?when one gets reactions ,without reading instructions dont know what to do.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Annu K., Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    Dear Rita, Germany

    See below:
    Posted on 2 January 2017
    On 25 November, the German Bundesrat (upper house of parliament) voted in favor of banning online prescription medicines. The online sales channel would only be available for OTC medicines.

    There are several other news articles says online prescription medicines are banned in Germany. Of course OTC medicines can be purchased online. There is a difference between prescribed and OTC medicines. Please note the importance of pharmacist, they are for DISPENSING the medicine not money making. If anyone can dispense the medicine anyone can be a Registered Medical Practitioner, our RMP doctors. Try to understand the role of Pharmacist.

    Pharmacists have earned enough till now.Now time for open trading freedom. "comments from Rita Germany".
    Rita, You mean open trade should make pharmacist job obselete. What a thought from Germany?? In other way General Practitioners have earned enough and now time for google search? Wow!
    Alternatively physiotherapist have earned enough and now time for spa and massage parlors! I thought living in Westerner countries increases knowledge.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • anseema beary, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    Honestly i feel pharmacists are not needed in today's pharmacy as they add no value = anonymoustroller30, Udupi

    this is against the law.

    In all over the world, pharmacist is the only person who can dispense the medication and cashier or billing clerks are not suppose to dispense so online is no way for the prescription medications. you can check with drug or pharmacy laws. i dont want to argue and i will only buy prescription medicines through dispensing pharmacist and do not support medications online purchase whatever cheap it is.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • SJM, Mangalore / Brazil - Lorena

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    In India Medical stores sales medicine on MRP printed in the strip / packs and they cannot keep 50% margins and consumers can get the bills with GST . Consumers can report if anyone who charges higher than MRP.
    Anyone seen what tempeature and hygienic conditions maintained in Online agencies and courier people?
    In Gulf and other countries the medicine prices are controlled by Ministry of Health and one price across the country. Only pharmacies are making little more margins to survive on Non Medicine products .
    We should implement this rule in India so that Online and local medical stores can reasonable business without any allegations.
    Online medicine is good those who unable to walk or access to the local stores . So keep both options are open as local medical stores gives credit support to known customers and door step delivery .

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anilkumar, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    How can medical stores protest in a democratic country. If online medicines are cheaper, it means that some in the distribution channel is making huge profit and the medical stores are part of them. let them suffer a bit and then the intermediates will automatically give up.

    As of now many medicines are available on line at discounts ranging from 15% to 50% . I want all readers to know this fact and boycott the medical stores or use them only when it is essential. If you are buying medicines regularly for chronic sicknesses such as diabetics,, blood pressure, heart disease, orthopedic complaints etc., try to buy your monthly requirements on line. I buy my diabetic medicines at 25% discount. I have even helped my housemaid to buy her medicines at discount.

    Why should the middle man be profited?? Buying medicines with prescriptions online is a worldwide system which none of the medical stores can stop.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stan, Udupi/Dubai

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    Online trading is part of trading and traders should not have complains about it. It saves money and time of consumers.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    In Mumbai Medical Stores sell with a 50% Margin.
    Why should they cry now.
    Be Competitive or Get Lost ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen Rego, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    Again in support of central government, kya peeliya bhai aaj........

    DisAgree [7] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    I believe in calling a Spade a Spade ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    Naveen Rego, Mangalore,
    Why are you writing Nonsense ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santhosh, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    Medical stores must have Pharmacist.People who are working in those shops are not properly qualified.This can cause mistakes and harm.Major companies and Pharmacies are needed to ensure safety and quality of drugs.Medicines must be stored in a well maintained room Temperature and certain medicines must be stored in a well calibrated Fridge.Qualification,Knowledge and Integrity are must on the part of the seller.Do we have all these in our neighborhood store?

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • SK, MANGALORE

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    We have to accept the reality and move on, nothing is permanent things may be changed tomorrow however good and secure we are today. Now everything done online there is no surprise if medicines sold online by the authorized agencies if the medical prescription copy of doctor is attached with the request. In future we doubt there will be shops like today as there will be more stores and less shops as most of the sales done online as the customers can see many options and confirm one liked item of any one item he wants to purchase.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    In the world of trade, ultimately the consumer becomes the king. The greater the competition among the sellers, the lower the price for the consumer.

    Unfortunately there is a down side too. If more and more goods are bought online, the trade will be in the hands of larger businesses, and many family-owned shops employing many millions of people will have to close down.

    Significant portions of the larger businesses may be owned (through shares) by foreign investors.

    The question the society needs to ask is: how do we balance between our savings and providing employment opportunities to our children.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • anonymoustroller30, Manipal

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    It is a very selfish motive by the medical stores. I know for a fact that most of the drugs sold have more than 50-70% profit margin on sales. Online stores are readily offering upto 10% discount on drugs bought through them. The allegation of medical stores about drug abuse is totally false. Online stores only supply the drug after uploading a valid prescription with the date clearly mentioned in the prescription.
    When all modes of commerce are moving to be people friendly, the medical stores should come up with innovative methods to compete with online stores so that people still by from them.
    This protest has a very selfish motive. It is similar to radio companies going on protest when TV companies are selling well and reducing their market.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • anseema beary, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    I know for a fact that most of the drugs sold have more than 50-70% profit margin on sales. = anonymoustroller30, Manipal

    this is incorrect. if there is NO 50-70% profit. if so I am ready to open a medical store.
    medical stores get maximum 20%. yes if you distribute as a stockist/dealer propaganda cum distributor you will get above 70% but this distribution is only to the medical stores not to the individual customer. to become a propaganda cum distributor you do not need pharmacy qualification.

    there are few issues needs to be considered.
    none of the countries sell medicines online.
    only pharmacist can dispense the medication, no one else. it is illegal to sell medicines other than pharmacist.
    only supplements can be sold through online.
    it is strongly suggested online medications should be banned considered the above facts.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • anonymoustroller30, Udupi

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    Dear Anseema beary,
    I have been involved in procurement of Pharmacy drugs from various distributors/dealers for sale at various hospitals and pharmacies. I know the sales margin enjoyed by pharma retailers. If they are only running business with 20% margin that is unfortunately because they do not know how to negotiate for good rates with distributors or because their volumes are too low. I personally have seen paracetamol of branded companies whose cost is 2 Rs per tablet being sold with MRP of 8-9 Rs.
    What i have mentioned in the above comment is only from experience. I have not created anything out of thin air.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • anseema beary, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    anonymoustroller30, Udupi

    i agree what you are saying that is hospital procurement or purchasing which you get with bargain institutional sales. various sorts of methods have been used by medical reps or pharmacy companies to promote institutional sales which is different. that is why hospital chief procurement person or purchaser have been crowded with offers and gifts. this is bulk purchasing and not retail. in this sales distributor and medical companies are involves through medical reps.

    the issues here is retail sales where pharmacist is mandatory in medical store for dispense and that is the reason several pharmacy colleges have been built and strict compliance has been implemented. if you sell medicines through online as regular consumer products why we require pharmacist in medical store? why drug inspector? why drug inspector doing inspection? are these rules are implemented to online sales. do we know whether there follow drug rules and pharmacist is there?

    for the reduced rates there are public pharmacies are available in mangalore with generic medications (subject to quality - needs to be confirmed). these are cheaper than online.

    if you ask any pharmacy qualified person, drug inspector, pharmacy association or pharmacy colleges or even a qualified person, i don't think anyone will support pharmacy online sales. have you ever seen some drugs it has clearly mentioned "for prescription only".

    it seems your experience is institutional procurement where you get the competitive rates for bulk order and the medical reps use different techniques for these sales with different offers. the reason is it is inhouse sales and only single product will be kept most of the time and it has been used as generic and substitute, but still the customer will pay as per the MRP. medical stores cannot get these offers and they cannot keep these huge inventory.

    online is possible for consumer items but not for medications.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Report Abuse

  • anonymoustroller30, udupi

    Sat, Sep 29 2018

    Dear Anseema Beary,
    I dont know why you are taking my comments on the above article as against the pharmacists profession. My problem is with retail pharmacy sellers who have organised the protest. In a competitive world, the one who satisfies the needs of the customers will finally stand tall.
    Now that you have raised the issue of pharmacy profession and why they are needed let me also share with you my experiences-
    I have bought medicines multiple times from retail pharmacies and unfortunately i dont know whether the person handing the medicines to me is a qualified pharmacist or not. It doesnt matter to me. In many pharmacies i personally have seen that pharmacists are only reading out the prescription to the clerical staff who pick out the medicines from the racks, bill it and give it to me. Is this what pharmacists are qualified to be?
    With the numerous mushrooming Pharmacy colleges i have heard from my colleagues about many qualified candidates who come for the interview for the posts of pharmacists but do not know the meaning of terms like 'contraindications'.
    Honestly i feel pharmacists are not needed in today's pharmacy as they add no value to the entire process of buying medicines. I believe if I have a prescription from a doctor, no pharmacist can take any decision or deny giving me the medicines. It can instead be given to me by any bcom/bsc/ba graduate who knows how to read.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Report Abuse


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