Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 14 2009:
The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has urged the Pharmacy owners � who downed their shutters for two consecutive days now since yesterday � to reopen their shops and resume normal service in the interest of the public and the patients while adding that those ignoring the plea should close their shops forever.
Pointing out that the monetary demand has been made to the stockists, DESAM's publicity and propaganda secretary, KC Ibomcha stated that causing inconvenience to the public and the patients by the pharmacy owners in downing their shutters is not justified.
The statement also pointed out that disturbing the pharmacists which are providing life saving drugs as well as medicines to the people would be against the interest of the people.
It stated that being within the fold of essential service providers, pharmacies have been exempted from bandh and strike.
It also appealed the militant and 'pseudo-militant' groups not to cause unnecessary harassment to the pharmacies whose services are positioned between life and death and not to impose unbearable monetary demand to them.
DESAM also wonders as to why the pharmacists ceased service against the public interest when the demand is not directed particularly to them, the statement stated adding that this is the act of their own interest.
The statement pointed out that the medical stockists have traded in sub-standard drugs without thinking for the health of the public but just to fulfill their selfish end.
The stockists, through the medical representatives lobby with the doctors by enticing the doctors with lavish gifts and sponsoring pleasure trips.
Some self-interested doctors prescribed the substandard drugs to patients and silent killing process by slow poisoning has gone on unceasingly, the statement observed.
It also took note over the indulgence of Intern PGs/Home Surgeon of RIMS to push the substandard drugs by ordering cigarettes and liquors in their hostel.
DESAM appeals the public and the concerned individuals to end the selling of counterfeited drugs in the state.