Partial shutdown of medical stores

LAHORE

A partial shutdown strike of medical stores was observed on Thursday in the City on the first day of one-month strike call given by Pakistan Chemists and Retailers Association (PCRA).

The owners of medical stores were divided over the one-month strike ahead of Holy month of Ramazan as the PCRA gave a call of a shutter-down strike with effect from May 25 to June 25, 2017, against, what it called, black laws against the chemists and retail medical stores in the province.

It was observed that medical stores in front of Lahore General Hospital remained closed on Thursday and remained open in front of other tertiary care hospitals in the City. Besides, medical stores in some parts of the City were partially closed. Patients faced difficulties due to closure of medical stores especially in front of Lahore General Hospital.

However, Lohari Medicine Market, chain pharmacies and most of the medical stores in all parts of the City largely ignored the strike and continued their business.

PCRA Chairman Ishaq Mayo demanded of the government to withdraw the amendments under the Drugs Act (Amendment) 2017, which, he said, were aimed to harass the medical stores’ owners.

He also expressed reservations over engaging a private firm for inspection of medical stores, and said it was tantamount to victimise and harass the medical stores’ owners in the province.

He also demanded of the government to hold negotiations with the chemists, druggists, wholesalers and retailers over Drugs Act (Amendment) 2017, Schedule G and private drug inspectors for inspection of drugstores in the province.  He vowed to continue strike of medical stores till the acceptance of the demands.