Drug retailers observe 12-hour bandh in Jammu

Medicine shops in Jammu today remained shut in support of a 12-hour bandh call issued by a national body of chemists and druggists in protest against reduction of trade margins as per a new central government policy.
All medicine shops in Jammu remained shut from 6 am today with traders across the city observing the bandh call from All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).
Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Medicine Dealers' Association (JKMDA) also took out a protest march and held demonstrations near Press Club here.
A JKMDA spokesperson said that the bandh was in protest against non-fulfilment of demands by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

AIOCD is objecting to a reduction in trade margins for medicines in the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013, and is also opposed to FDI in distribution and sale of medicines.
The new drug policy recommends a 6 per cent reduction in profit margins for medicine retailers. AIOCD claim that chemists and druggists would be adversely impacted by the move.