As the strike by the chemists association is expected to continue again in second half of December, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to launch a helpline for the needy patients.
Due to the strike, patients who are unable to get medicines at time of need, will be benefited by this helpline. The helpline number is 0253-2351201.The Nashik division includes 5 divisions: – Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Dhule and Nandurbar. The total number of chemist’s shops in this division are 7,808 out of which 2,600 are in Nashik district.
On this the Assistant commissioner (drugs) of the FDA’s Nashik division, Ramesh Urankar, commented, “We are not against medical stores, but pharmacists must be present when the chemists are open for business. We have started inspecting the medical stores as per the Maharashtra Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. To date this year, we have cancelled the licenses of 355 medical stores in the Nashik division. Moreover, the licenses of 166 medical stores have been suspended during the same period.”
The FDA assures taking precautionary measures to extend utmost support to the needy.