Druggists & Pharmacists asked to promote cashless transactions

In the wake of demonetisation, druggists and pharmacists across the country have been asked to switch to digital technology in their day to day business to promote cashless transactions.
The Drug Controller General of India G N Singh has written a letter to all druggists and pharmacist associations asking their members to switch to the digital mode while asserting that Central Drugs Standard Control Organization has already switched to receive payments of licensing and processing fee "exclusively" through no cash means.
In his letter, Singh said that government has taken a series of steps as part of 'digital India' initiative.

He said that the Health Ministry has also been making efforts to leverage Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for improving efficiency and effectiveness of the health care delivery in the country.
"One of the activities initiated for the purpose is to move to cashless economy by adopting various methods of digital payments. On the regulatory side, we have already moved to receive payments of licensing and processing fee, etc exclusively through non cash means.
"I shall be grateful if you could request all your members to advise all members of your association to switch over to use of digital technology in their day to day business," Singh said in his letter to druggists and pharmacist associations.

The Health Ministry has already asked states to take steps to operationalise digital payment facilities in government hospitals for patients' convenience.
The Ministry in an advisory issued by joint secretary Manoj Jhalani recently said that it is important that the government health facilities are fully geared up to receive user charges in a digital manner including through mobile transactions.