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'Shut shop if you can't pay pharmacist'
Firm on the action against chemists, Mahesh Zagade, state FDA commissioner, says that they won't give in to illegal demands. Menaka Rao reports.
Firm on the action against chemists, Mahesh Zagade, state FDA commissioner, says that they won't give in to illegal demands.
How important are pharmacists in a chemist shop?
A pharmacist is an important interface between the manufactured drug and the patient. As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the drug has to be dispensed by an expert. Any slight deviation can cause havoc in the bodies of a patient. The pharmacist has to check whether the prescription is given by a competent doctor, whether the dosage is optimal, and whether the combination of dosage is correct.
The chemist association says pharmacy graduates are not interested in working in a chemist shop
When the 51,000 pharmacy shops in the state were given licences, they gave an affidavit in writing that they would have a pharmacist available at all times. If the chemists feel their business is not viable to pay pharmacists, they could close down. The genuine chemists will continue.
What will be the outcome of the FDA action?
Running a pharmacy shop is not like running a dry cleaning business. The shops that have a full-time pharmacist want to continue. If someone is making for illegal demands, it cannot be fulfilled.
