Srinagar: Authorities have asked chemist shops in Kashmir Valley not to display discount percentage flex boards outside their premises in the best interest of the patient care.
“It has been reported by the empowered authorities of various Districts of Kashmir Division that some chemist shops are displaying the Discount rates/Discount percentage of medicines outside their shops thereby creating chaos and confusion among the needy patients,” Dy. Drugs Controller Kashmir Division said in circular.
“Discount is a kind of reduction or deduction in the cost price of a product. It Is mostly used during consumer transactions, where patients are provided with discount on various medicines,” the circular reads, adding, “Such practices are intolerable and violation of the pharmacy ethics. All the retail chemists shops in the Districts of Kashmir Division are directed not to display discount percentage flex boards outside premises in the best interest of the patient care.”
The authorities also asked stakeholders dealing in Pharma business in Kashmir to obtain medical products from outside J&K only when they are able to obtain dealer particulars, address, contact details, bank details, GST details and valid License copies as well as certificate from local Drug Authority of concerned State/U T certifying the good standing of the supplying vendor.
“The Drugs and Cosmetic Act & Rules have been enacted to regulate the import, manufacture distribution and sale of drugs and cosmetics. Under such regulations, licenses are granted by the competent authority to eligible persons to run business of wholesale/retail drugs,” the circular said, adding, “However instances of licensees indulging in purchase of medicines from some sources (suspected) located outside the U.T of J&K have been reported by the empowered inspectorate staff and some Pharma trade Associations in the Division.”
Good Trade Practices support any purchase from sources located outside the UT in exceptional circumstances where local sources of supply are not available, it said. Rules 65(5)(3) of the Drug & Cosmetic Rules 1945 provides the complete procedure regarding sale or resale by the wholesale.
“In order to reform the scenario regarding procurement particularly from sources located outside Union Territory, it is mandatory to exercise stringent regulatory Control, “ it said, adding, “As a prudent measure all the stakeholders dealing in Pharma business in the Kashmir Division are hereby notified Io obtain medical products from outside state only when they are able to obtain documents from the supply sources including dealer particulars, address, contact details, bank details, GST details and valid License copies ..documentary evidence to suggest that the supplying firm is an authorized dealer/stockiest /vendor of the manufacturing firm, challan details, transportation record and certificate from local Drug Authority of concerned State/UT certifying the good standing of the supplying vendor.”
