STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Alleging that the government has allotted medical shops in government hospitals to an outsider company ‘Sanyog’, the Jammu based chemists on Monday protested against the government’s move to open 57 medical shops within the premises of all the government hospitals in the State.
The protesters led by President Jammu Chemists Association (JCA), Naveen Bali assembled outside Government Medical College Hospital, Bakshi Nagar and raised slogans against the government.
Naveen said, “There are ample medical shops outside Bakshi Nagar Hospital selling the medicines at fair prices. Why 57 shops have been allotted to a single Delhi based company?”
“It is unreasonable to open shops inside all government hospitals which will offer medicines at higher prices affecting both their businesses and the ailing customers, Naveen said, adding “this move will directly affect the livelihood of 2,000 families.”
Meanwhile, General Secretary, JCA Prem Sharma said, “Earlier, this move was initiated by the government but the chemists sought stay over the decision, which was later vacated.”
“We approached the concerned department many times for withdrawing the decision but due to nexus between vested interests outside and within the machinery, finally, the government decided to set up these shops,” alleged Sharma. Similar protests were also held at Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar and Shalamar.
A group of chemists also ransacked a new medicine counter of ‘Sanyog’ being setup at SMGS hospital on Monday morning. The company has lodged a complaint against the mob.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry including pharma traders on Monday evening called on Minister for Health Bali Bhagat and requested him to cancel allotment of medical shops in government hospitals to a firm owned by a non-state subject.
The Minister asked them to come up with evidences proving that the shops run by the firm were selling medicines at higher rates than available in the market and assured proper action if the same is found true.
During a meeting convened at Chamber House, the Chamber alleged that the tendering process was fully designed with the malafide intent of allotting these shops to the aforesaid firm and all the quotations/offers received in lieu of NIT were quoted by the same people who are either Directors or Partners in different firms.
The Chamber further alleged that the aforementioned chain who has been allotted these shops in the name of Sanyog Enterprises Pvt. Ltd, Delhi is a ‘favourite’ of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) authorities. Many medicines supplies by the afore said firm to the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation have been found substandard, the Chamber added.
The Chamber along with Jammu Chemists Association and Jammu Pharmaceutical Association has threatened to intensify their stir if the government fails to cancel the allotment of shops to Sanyog.