AGARTALA, May 28 (TIWN) : Eventhough Tripura Chemist & Druggist Association issued the internet unavailability against the launching E-Portal system in their shops including rural shops, but Central Govt has given another option of 'mobile-using' rather than internet for uploading the drug details. Drug quality is big question for the patients purchasing at High Prices, but with the E-Portal Council every shop keepers now have to come under a common system of drug supplying-purchasing-selling. All stockists/wholesalers will, also be required to register and enter details of stocks received and supplied by them to further distributors or retailers. No retailer/chemist/e-pharmacist outlet shall be permitted to sell any medicine, unless such pharmacy is registered on the e-portal. But Tripura Chemist and Druggist Association has called a strike to all the medical shops, protesting that move. The protesters also said that due to the unavailability of internet excess across the hilly Tripura, this E-Portal is practically impossible.

 But, it has been clearly mentioned that the data can be entered both through online, and by using mobile phones. The pharmacies located in rural and other remote areas can upload the data either through mobile phones or through internet once every fortnight.

But Tripura Left Front Govt has silently supported the strike of medical shops knowing it will affect the patients heavily for a day. From the state govt the strike was not urged to withdraw nor gave any statement about E-portal when Tripura's medical quality is always under doubt along with various scandals of selling Phensedyl to other items.

In March, 2017 in order to ensure that drugs meet quality standards, a notice posted on the ministry's website announcing about E-portal move saying that the move is aimed to make the entire trade channel, from manufacturers to wholesalers/retailers to the patients, including e-pharmacies, more transparent.

However, according to Tripura Chemist & Druggist Association, this will hamper their business heavily and also create a crisis in law and order.

But the Central Govt’s order says that every businessmen will have to register in E-portal and within 15 days their information about drug supply need to be uploaded so that the quality of drugs can be tracked.

This "track and trace" mechanism could also curb anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and regulate supply of medicines through the internet to persons in and outside India. Currently, bar-coding on medicines packs are done only for exports whereas the drugs sold in the domestic market are not subjected to quality checks.

Thus, within few days the medical shop owners who are practiced with careless medical business, will see a tough time; almost a little version of NITI Ayog troubling state govt instead of planning commission.

However, on Sunday in a press conference this proposal was strictly opposed by Tripura Chemist & Druggist Association.

Pharmacies in rural or remote areas may upload their data through mobile phones or the Internet once in two weeks. The new mechanism will also require hospitals to enter the details of medicines dispensed. The ministry has also proposed audits that would allow drug regulators to detect any breaches of conditions of drug laws.