Don't let doctors store medicines, urge chemists

The ongoing tussle between the state and chemist associations on FDA’s duty-bound implementation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, has dragged in doctors.

Pharmacists have asked the state government to keep an eye on doctors who store drugs at their clinics. Indian Medical Association (IMA) members met Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner to say it is legal for the doctors to keep medicines and the pharmacists’ demand is not according to the law.

Dr Anil Pachnekar, Maharashtra state IMA president, said: “We approached the FDA commissioner to ensure they don’t give in to the demand.”

The Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists’ Association (MSCDA) refuted the IMA allegations. “We told the CM that action shouldn’t be taken on pharmacists alone. Doctors too keep drugs and so they should also maintain records,” said Anil Navandar, secretary, MSCDA.