Press Note

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
13-October-2015 20:06 IST

Press Note

Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda spoke to the President of the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists today, regarding their call for an All India strike on 14.10.2015 against the alleged efforts to allow sale of medicines through internet. The Union Minister clarified that no such decision has been taken by the Government. He informed them that views of all stakeholders will be taken into account as and when the matter is taken up for consideration by the Government.

To further clarify the matter, a meeting was held between senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists on 12.10.2015, wherein the office bearers of the Organisation were informed that a number of representations have been received both for and against this proposal, and the matter had earlier been discussed in the meeting of the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC) held on 24.07.2015 comprising the Drug Controller General of India and all State Drug Regulators. A Sub-Committee has been constituted by the DCC to look into the matter which has so far undertaken only preliminary discussions with the stakeholders to ascertain their views. It was also clarified during the meeting that examination of representations in the matter should not be misconstrued as the intention of the Government to permit any such sale.

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