FAMILY AFFAIR?: Members of families of medical representatives demonstrating as part of three-day stir against new drug policy in Kurnool on Friday. — Photo U.Subramanyam

KURNOOL: Family members of medical representatives took part in the protest on the last day of three-day stir against new drug policy here on Friday. The protesters highlighted symbolically the policies of two drug companies which, according them, would enslave the entire Indian pharmaceutical industry.

General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh Medical and Sales Representatives Union A.G. Rajmoham said a new trend had set in into the industry placing the entire burden of sales target on the medical representative.

He explained that various factors like quality, price, need and availability of drugs influenced the doctor in prescribing the drugs of a company.

A representative could only market the product and could not ensure sales.

Financial benefits

Similarly, certain companies changed the designation of medical representative to Territory Sales Officer in order to keep them out of the reach of union. The companies were arguing that the union could involve only in the debate on financial benefits and not on service matters and job security.

Mr. Rajmohan urged the Government to indicate cost price of a drug along with maximum retail price.

He said certain common drugs which cost only seven paise were sold at Rs. 3 per tablet. The Multinational Companies (MNCs) were marketing drugs without having manufacturing facilities in the country due to liberal drug policy.

He alleged that the MNCs were moving with the motive of killing the domestic drug industry before taking over the drug supply.

He said the Government was sleeping over fast deterioration of drug sector in the country, which would result in a serious challenge in the coming years.

ANANTAPUR: Members of Andhra Pradesh Medical and Sales Representatives' Union took out a procession through the main streets in the district headquarters town on Friday in protest against the alleged inaction of the Government on the spurious drug manufacturers and seeking Government intervention to control the prices of essential drugs. State secretary of APMSRU, A.G. Rajmohan, addressed the protestors.

Medical representatives were protesting all over the country seeking Government action against the manufacturers of spurious drug makers and on the long-pending problems of the representatives.

They demanded amendments to the existing laws to control the prices of drugs, bringing all essential and life saving drugs under the purview of Price Control Act, probe into the companies evading excise and income tax, banning import of drugs available in the country abundantly and revival of public sector pharmaceutical units to bring drugs within the reach of the poor.

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