Imphal, July 21: Expressing serious concern at the rapidly declining stock position of life saving drugs, Medical and Sales Representatives' Association of Manipur (MSRAM) has fervently appealed to the State Government to extend all possible assistance to organisations/agents trying to procure medicines.

Asserting that procurement of life saving drugs and other medicines was impossible when ANSAM enforced the blockade before relaxing its stand on medicine and press material, MSRAM lamented that transporting pharmaceutical items had run into another complication with transport agents setting the July 22 deadline to close down their Imphal offices.

As pharmaceutical items had to be procured only through transport agencies, closure of the offices is unfortunate as it is another addition to health problems already faced by the public, said the Association.

On the present stock position, it said that the stock of oxygen and nitrous oxide, which are vital requirements in operation purpose, will last only for a few days at RIMS, JN and private hospitals.

Operations are performed only for emergency cases at the moment.

Reminding that routine operation had to be stopped due to the essential items vanishing from stores of medical centres MSRAM also highlighted difficulties faced by patient party due to distributors unable to sustain supply of major and common brand medicines to pharmaceutical outlets.

Under such circumstances recent comments of the Health Minister L Nandakumar at the floor of the assembly of sufficient stock position is unfortunate as well as-irresponsible as need of the hour is not impressing the.