Drugstores continue strike in Lahore

LAHORE: Medical store owners continued a strike on second consecutive day on Friday against the controversial amendments to the Drugs Act (Amendments) 2017.

The shutdown of medical stores intensified on second day after a partial strike on the first day of one-month strike call given by the Pakistan Chemists and Retailers Association (PCRA).

The medical stores’ owners, who were initially divided over the one-month strike ahead of Ramazan, have started gradually joining the strike against the behaviour of the government towards the plight of chemists and retailers as no government functionary or official of Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department tried to hold negotiations with the protesting owners of medical stores in the City.

PCRA Chairman Ishaq Mayo gave a call of a shutdown strike with effect from May 25 to June 25, 2017 against, what he 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 were completely closed on Friday and remained partially closed in front of other tertiary care hospitals in the City. Besides, medical stores in many parts of the City including Sanat Nagar were closed. The patients have to face difficulties especially in front of teaching hospitals and they have to go medical stores away from the hospitals.

However, Lohari Medicine Market, chain pharmacies and medical stores in some parts of the City remained open, but the situation is gradually worsening as the government continues to ignore the reality and didn’t engage them in a dialogue to resolve the matter in the best interests of the patients. It is learnt that Punjab Chemists Association and Lohari Medicine Market is also considering closing their businesses with effect from May 31, 2017.

Ishaq Mayo demanded the government to withdraw the amendments under the Drugs Act (Amendment) 2017, which aimed at harassment of the medical stores’ owners. He also expressed reservations over engaging a private firm for inspection of medical stores, which he said was tantamount to victimising and harassing 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 the strike till the acceptance of demands.