Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 01 2009:
Voluntary help Unit Committee, RIMS has strongly condemned decision of the Manipur Chemists' and Druggists' Association not to supply medicines to the pharmacies being set up inside the RIMS Hospital premises.
While recalling co-operation and assistance of the MCDA to the Help Unit in the past, a publicity committee statement of the Committee Unit said it takes grim note of the fact that MCDA had decided to cease supply of medicines to the said pharmacies which were opened with the stated objective to ensuring patients have access to quality medicines at discount rates of 5 to 10 percent.
Calling upon the MCDA functionaries to have talks with RIMS authorities to settle the matter at the earliest, the Committee also suggested that MCDA look beyond the commercial interest of a few pharmaceutical outlets near the Hospital campus.
Cautioning that VHUC would campaign to expose business-centric agenda of the MCDA, the Committee conveyed that temporary pharmacy run by the VHUC has been shut down with effect from october 13 as a consequence of opening of the pharmacies with the approval of RIMS authorities.
The Committee established in the wake of the violent June 18, 2001 mass protest to assist injured persons had also been continuosly extending help to victims of public-related movements apart from organising blood donation camps every year, it added.