Date:14/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/14/stories/2008041452770300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Medical reps plan stir

Staff Reporter

Check on rising prices of drugs demanded
Many reps work for low salaries, says association leader

Kakinada: The Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives’ Associations of India (FMSRAI) has called for a nationwide strike on April 24 as part of its agitation against the Government’s alleged negligence in regulating the pharmaceutical industry and solving the problems of medical representatives.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Andhra Pradesh Medical and Sales Representatives’ Union (APMSRU) State secretary D Veerabhadra Rao said that the federation’s general council meeting held at Cochin recently, took the decision to go on strike, demanding a check on rising prices of drugs, commercialization of the health care system and unethical marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies.

The FMSRAI made repeated appeals to the Central Government to check the illegal and unethical practices of pharmaceutical companies but the latter dictate terms to the government, he said.

He said releasing drugs into the market before the completion of clinical trials had been a public health menace. Many pharmaceutical companies were introducing their products in the market by conducting trials which are fake, posing serious danger to the consumers. But, there was no check on such hazardous activities. He said many medical representatives work for monthly salaries below Rs 5,000.A majority of them were denied benefits guaranteed by the Sales Promotion Employees Act.

APMSRU district president PV Gupta, secretary P Kameswara Rao and Indian Medical Association secretary Dr. Rama Swaroop Jawahar also spoke.