Drug stores to be open for only 6 hrs from Monday

The chemists’ associations claimed to be upset with the food and drug administration for not heeding to their pleas of “going soft” on implementing the rule.

The state chemists association had resorted to a similar move earlier as well.

Secretary of the Association Anil Navander said that time and again they had urged the government to look into their problems and set up a committee to understand their grievances.

Anil Belkar,who is the treasurer of the western zone of the association,said there are 7,500 chemists in Pune,of which 5,700 are retailers. “We will remain open only for six-eight hours as a mark of protest,” he said.

FDA joint commissioner (drugs) B R Masaal said they had written to the state government to ensure that a healthy stock of emergency drugs at the state government and semi-government hospitals.

Pharmacies of all major hospitals in Pune will remain open 24X 7.