IMPHAL, Sept 23: The Manipur Chemist and Druggist Association has been taking all possible efforts to maintain adequate supply of medicines in the state and it will further beefed up its efforts in the wake of the prolonged economic blockade, stated Dr. RK Ratankumar Singh, general secretary (MCDA) during the press conference held this evening at Manipur Press Club Imphal.
He stated that his association has been putting in their whole efforts to maintained the adequate supply of medicine in the state, and that it will put in more efforts to help the ailing patients in the state with supply of medicine.
Further speaking on the issue of two medicine laden trucks being burned down at Nungkao, he stated that after the incident at Nungkao on September 16 along the National Highway 37 (53), there has been numerous intimations to the association from different companies to stop supply of medicine to the state, unless the loss is compensated either by the government or the MCDA within 19 days from the date of incident.
He further mentioned that, the association had submitted their representations to the state government through the state health minister and the health commissioner on September 20 and subsequently organized an official meeting which was attended by the state health minister L Jayantakumar Singh and state health commissioner to chalk out a possible means to fulfill the directives of the different companies on the issue of compensation for the drugs damaged during the September 16 Nungkao arson.
The spokesman further mentioned that the state government has given its assurance to provide compensation for the damaged drugs within December, as result the representatives of the association will leave Imphal very soon to lobby the different companies that are based outside the state.
He further informed that, there have been positive implications from some companies regarding supply of drugs to the state already received by the association and as such there is every possibility of bringing in adequate supply of medicine into the state in the next two days, he added.
Meanwhile, in what could be a veiled reply to the clarification of the state DGP and the police department on the issue of non availability of medicine in the state, he mentioned that it is unfortunate on the part of the state police department which have tried to tarnish the image of the selfless efforts of the association.