Drug retailers observe 12-hour bandh in Jammu

Medicine shops in Jammu remained shut in support of 12-hour bandh call issued by body of chemists and druggists in protest against reduction of trade margins as per new central government policy.

Jammu: Medicine shops in Jammu on Friday remained shut in support of a 12-hour bandh call issued by a national body of chemists and druggists in protest against reduction of trade margins as per a new central government policy.

All medicine shops in Jammu remained shut from 6 am today with traders across the city observing the bandh call from All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Medicine Dealers` Association (JKMDA) also took out a protest march and held demonstrations near Press Club here. A JKMDA spokesperson said that the bandh was in protest against non-fulfilment of demands by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. AIOCD is objecting to a reduction in trade margins for medicines in the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013, and is also opposed to FDI in distribution and sale of medicines. The new drug policy recommends a 6 per cent reduction in profit margins for medicine retailers. AIOCD claim that chemists and druggists would be adversely impacted by the move. PTI