Date:22/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/22/stories/2007032208180500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Medical representatives urge Centre to control prices

Staff Reporter

FERVENT APPEAL: Medical representatives staging a protest in front of medical shops in Anantapur on Wednesday.

ANANTAPUR: Andhra Pradesh Medical and Sales Representatives' Union (APMSRU) staged a protest in front of medical shops here on Wednesday, demanding the Central Government control prices of medicines and prevent spurious and fake medicines.

Speaking on the occasion, leaders of APMSRU said that it was the responsibility of the Centre to bring all life saving medicines within the reach of the poor as they were being sold at exorbitant price in the absence of any mechanism to monitor the supply and distribution.

Besides, they pointed out that heavy excise tax levied on the medicines was also adding to their cost and urged the Centre to reduce the excise duty .

They termed it unfortunate to levy excise duty on maximum retail prices instead of production cost, as was the practice earlier.