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Govt to ensure availability of insulin, cardiac drugs
In the wake of shortage of drugs, the Drug Controller General of India has sought details of stocks from states. The Tamil Nadu government is set to provide the requisite details on the stocks available with the Tamil Nadu Government and wholesale providers.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
In a letter to the State Drug Controller, the Drug Controller General stated that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority had noted that stocks cardiac and anti-diabetic drugs, including insulin, are below normal. It also recommended necessary actions to ensure sufficient and continuous availability of the said drugs.
However, pharmacists and druggists said that the stock is sufficient at the moment but shortage could be witnessed in the coming days if the lockdown continues.
“During the initial stage of lockdown, we did not have any issues, but recently, the stock has depleted. In the past 10 to 15 days, the supply was hit and it led to a shortage of diabetics and anti-hypertensive drugs. But we are able to get regular stocks of Paracetamol, Amoxlyin, and other tablets. In fact, if there is no stock, we will get it by the next day itself,” said a staff at the Apollo Pharmacy in George Town.
In case of a shortage, the majority of the pharmacies in the city are getting the supplies, within a day or two. “We have been getting continuous stock of many chronic disease medicines,” said Kannan, who works at RR Pharmacy in Mylapore.
Officials with the Chemists and Druggists Association said that the availability of medicines for cardiac conditions, hypertension and diabetes is ensured.
But distributors are not adequate in number to ensure regular supply. Pharmaceutical companies stated that insufficient labour and lack of proper transportation is making it difficult to meet the monthly target.
Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists’ Association President S Ramachandran said, “All drugs are available for this month. However, the production has reduced in the pharmaceutical companies, thus, making it difficult to maintain the stocks. Once the shortage of these drugs is noticed, the demand will also increase in a bid to stock up for future use.” To ensure adequate availability of insulin, anti-hypertensive drugs and drugs for cardiac conditions, the State Drug Controller Authorities have also been asked to issue instructions to drug manufacturers to ensure that adequate stock is maintained.
“We are in contact with the customers and also the manufacturers to channelise the availability of the drugs. Despite the short supply of anti-diabetic drugs, medicines for cardiac disorders and anti-oxidants, government is making arrangements with retailers and distributors to provide the drugs in case of non-availability,” said K Sivabalan, director, Tamil Nadu Drug Control Department.
Medicine availability hit due to supply chain disruption
The national lockdown has disrupted the pharma industry’s supply chain network to such an extent that despite the availability of drugs, life-saving ones included, the distribution has been hit hard. Though the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TNCDA) has given thumbs up to the measures taken by officials, retailers said the issue was aggravating each passing day.
S Elangovan, treasurer, TNCDA, said there is no problem in the supply of medicines. They had met the concerned officials about three weeks ago to raise their concerns, and received full cooperation from them, he said. “Top officials such as Gagandeep Singh Bedi and P Thamaraikannan are just a phone call away, willing to resolve any problem immediately. But though passes are issued, we are facing challenges at the constable level,” he admitted.
According to him, more than 5,000 chemists and over 1,000 distributors have been operating throughout the lockdown. Barring a few blips, it has been fine, Elangovan said, adding that a liaison officer oversees issues they face.
However, the owner of a medical shop in Anna Nagar told DT Next, on condition of anonymity, did not agree, explaining how he was finding it difficult to keep the shop running.
“Even if we want to deliver medicines to apartment complexes, getting passes and complying with other formalities involves many hassles. Those who want to come to buy medicines are also finding it difficult,” he said, adding that his sales have dipped by half since the lockdown.
The problem is with the availability of drugs, noted A Ramamoorthy, MD, Regenix. “Initially, inadequate supply of raw materials stalled production.
But now that movement from Mumbai has been permitted, that is no longer an issue. The need for supply in chronic segment has peaked. However, the supply chain has been hit, be it retailers or distributors.
We have a stock of three months. But though retail stocks have been exhausted, our sales people are finding it difficult as distributors have shut their operations.” The part-time opening rule for retailers has proved to be an additional cause of concern, while obtaining Corporation passes have not been easy. Though medicines come under priority items, the lockdown highlighted the haphazard manner in which the operations are being handled. Regular cough and cold medicines are not being dispensed, making people wary of going to medical shops, said Ramesh, father of a teenager who is prone to cold during seasonal changes.
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