Imphal, May 11 2010: With stock of life saving drugs as well as other medicines running low, Manipur Chemists and Druggists' Association (MCDA) has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Minister concerned for necessary measures to ensure adequate availability of medicines in the State.

speaking to newspersons today, MCDA general secretary Dr RK Ratankumar said wholesalers in the State had been facing problem of maintaining stock of pharmaceutical goods ever since the indefinite economic blockade along the two National Highways that connect the State to other parts of the country was imposed on April 15 .

Explaining why there would be acute shortage of medicines, he pointed out that wholesalers had been enduring difficulties in bulk transportation of medicines into Manipur after an armed group seized a truck loaded with life saving drugs on February 10 this year and destroyed the load worth over Rs 15 lakhs.

It is also informed that the particular armed group had been prohibiting transportation of drugs.

The MCDA functionary said the wholesalers have run out of stock of certain medicines and pharmaceutical goods such as antihypertensives, aniolytics, anti-diarrhoeais, anti-amoebics, anti-pyretic, anti-diabetic, gastritis, anti-TB, antibiotic, asthma, infant food, zincovit, poly-bion, asto-calcium, calcium injection, visyneral syrup, becon syrup, grinctus BM pead, tixylix syrup, solasix syrup and bextrozyme syrup.

Medicinal items still available with wholesalers of Manipur but likely to last for only about 10 days have been listed as dextrose, diabetic range, insulin and heavy bottle items.

Dr Ratankumar confided that based on level of consumption, MCDA has chalked out a mechanism for impartial distribution of drugs presently in stock to retailers so as to ensure that patients are not deprived of their requirements.

Informing that MCDA has been planning to bring in medicines through air cargo, flight carriers and speed post, he also drew attention of authorities concerned to give priority to medicines rather than on other commercial items.

Dr Ratankumar also disclosed that MCDA had intimated Nagaland Medicine Dealer Association to convey to Nagaland-based civil societies to extend cooperation in facilitating transportation of medicinal goods.

He also appealed to ANSAM and other organisations that had been enforcing economic blockade along the national highways to relax their stand and allow passage of medicines.

Dr Ratankumar also said that copies of the MCDA memorandum containing detailed account of low stock of drugs and medicines have also been submitted to the Medical Minister and Medical Directorate, with an appeal for necessary measures to address the situation.