Srinagar, Nov 26: Chemists and Druggists of the Valley on Saturday held a massive demonstration in Lal Chowk here against unscrupulous persons for what they said maligning their profession by trading in spurious and sub -standard drugs’ and running a campaign against the genuine people.
 “Registered and licensed pharma professionals will never sell spurious drugs. Some outsiders in nexus with some unscrupulous elements are trying to make entry into Kashmir to run their own retail and wholesale business within some hospitals. This is why baseless propaganda has been unleashed against local chemists,” President Jammu and Kashmir Chemists and Druggist Association Fayaz Ahmad said.
 The protestors said that they took to streets as the miscreants including some doctors continued with unethical practices, even after having been warned several times.
 “Some doctors are indulging in writing excessive drugs to the patients to earn maximum benefits from different pharmaceutical companies. Such practice has been going on from the last many years in Kashmir,” a chemist said. 
 According to him, some doctors had been found recommending excessive medicines -- calcium, multivitamins, and proteins --for simple cold. “This practice will encourage the sale of sub-standard and spurious drug,” he said.
 Muhammad Aslam, a chemist said there has been manifold increase in the number of people suffering from one ailment or the other in the Valley. “However, some people are taking undue advantage of these patients and take huge commission from the sale of the drugs,” he added.
 Deputy Controller Drugs Nazir Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that over hundred samples were taken from various chemist shops in different parts of Kashmir. “We sent the samples to different labs for testing and expecting the results soon,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST