Ludhiana, May 28
The District Chemists and Druggist Association today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, against the cancellation of drug licences of a medical hall and its allied branches by the Health Department.
Mr Vinod Sharma, president and Mr Lalit Verma, general secretary of the association in a joint statement today said the chemists belonged to the trade which was known as a noble trade to serve the ailing humanity and had been rendering services through honest approach and spirits. But it was unfortunate that the government took the decision to cancel the licences of a medical hall and its
branches. "This has been done with an ulterior motive. If this happens to a very senior member of our association, then what will be the plight of a common member of the association. The way the cancellation of drug licences has been promoted with an objective of political rivalry has jolted the spirits of the association”, said Mr Verma.
The members warned to give a strike call would be given till a concrete solution was given or orders for the cancellation of licences were reviewed. Mr Lalit Verma said: “If due to non-availability of medicines (in the strike phase), any mishap takes place, the administration would be held responsible for that”.
It may be mentioned that the Health Department had cancelled at least seven medicine firms owned by the Gurmail Medical Hall for stocking medicines and injections with expired date which was against the rules. The proprietor of the hall owns seven firms in the city including one each at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Oswal Memorial Hospital and three at Pindi street. These shops were raided by a team of Vigilance Bureau from Chandigarh earlier this month and had collected several samples from these shops.
All chemists downed their shutters and raised slogans against the highhandedness of the government after the news about the cancelling of licences reached them yesterday. The members alleged that such a step against the person was politically motivated.
