Delay in shutdown: Chemists take to streets against AMC’s pharmacy

Accuse medical superintendent of siding with store’s owner and preventing it from being closed

ABBOTABAD:

Chemists observed a shutter-down strike on Tuesday and protested outside Ayub Medical Complex (AMC) against delays in closing down the hospital’s pharmacy.

The protest was called by a local forum for pharmacists in Abbottabad, Chemists and Druggists Association. For three hours, the city’s chemists closed down their shops and participated in the protest.

They blocked Karakoram Highway for over 45 minutes and shouted slogans against the hospital administration.



The flow of traffic was suspended and police had to use force to disperse the protesters. Malik Shaukat, the president of the association, and several others were injured when the police resorted to baton charging them.

The protesters warned to take to the streets again if the pharmacy was not closed down within the next three days.

During the protest, Shaukat accused AMC’s medical superintendent of supporting the pharmacy owner and preventing it from being closed down.

“Since the pharmacy was set up, chemists outside the hospital have repeatedly complained of severe financial losses,” he said, adding that they have spent millions of rupees on their businesses.

According to Shaukat, local chemists have pressed the authorities concerned to take action against the pharmacy.



In January, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)’s health secretary ordered the closure of the pharmacy. An official reminder was sent to the hospital in February requesting them to wind up operations.

However, the order was not complied with owing to the medical superintendent’s reported support for the shop owner. The pharmacy owner also approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) but lost the case. He then assured the court he would close down the pharmacy by October 12.

“The date fixed for the closure has passed but the owner is reluctant to accept the orders as the hospital’s administration is supporting him,” claimed Shaukat.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer in Abbottabad, Abdul Razaq Abbasi, spoke to the protesters and vowed to support them in this endeavour.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2014.