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| Exorbitant’ profit earned by practitioners, chemists on medicines during COVID-19 | | Health experts want Drug Control Organization to pull up socks | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: As the entire world is fighting a war against the Corona Virus the health experts of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir have voiced concern over the exorbitant profit earned by the medical practitioners and chemists by selling the medicines and supplements considered to be essential in the present time.
Dr. Naeem Firdous Dar, Chest Specialist, Jhelum Valley Medical College & Hospital while talking to Early Times said that during COVID-19 sale of Vitamin C and Vitamin D tablets, Calcium tablets, B-Complex syrup, Zinc tablets, Paracetamol and Azithromycin tablets picked up like anything. He said that these medicines and supplements sold like hot cakes adding that there was no control over the prices. “These medicines and supplements led to earning of huge profits by the medical practitioners and chemists since there was no check on the prices. The concerned authorities seem to be in slumber even though the demand for such medicines and supplements has gone down with the passage of time,” said Dr. Naeem.
It would be in place to mention here that as soon as Corona Virus started showing its impact the health experts advised the people to take vitamins in good quantity and use Paracetamol and Azithromycin if they have COVID-19 like symptoms. This led to a huge demand of these medicines and supplements with the same going out of stock.
Dr. Naeem said that the drug ‘mafia’ is very active in Kashmir and there is no restriction on the sale of over the counter drugs adding that the concerned authority seldom takes any action. He said that even the sleeping pills and antibiotics are being rampantly used by the people that too without any prescription.
“There is no control over rates and every pharmaceutical company sells the medicines while offering different types and discounts. The customer gets the medicines on Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and at the end of the day the people especially the patients suffer. No supervision or control is visible on the ground,” said Dr. Naeem.
Dr. Naeem said that there is no check on quality of medication following the mushroom growth of pharmaceutical companies. He said the different companies are selling the medicines on varied rates and for the same they lure medical professionals as well as pharmacists while offering them gifts.
It has been observed that Drug Control Organization carries out drive according to their own will and during most period of time they remain quite indifferent towards the issues being faced by people especially patients. As a result of this the chemists and other stakeholders earn huge profits with no accountability. |
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