Jammu Pharmaceutical Association Demands Complete Lockdown

JAMMU, Apr 28: Addressing an urgent press conference today at Hotel KC Residency the President of The Jammu Pharmaceutical Distributors Association Sh. Rakesh Gupta spoke about the alarming situation across India due to sudden and steep surge in Covid 19 positive cases.

At the outset the President JPDA thanked the Hon’ble LG of J & K UT Sh. Manoj Sinha for his great and generous gesture of getting his daughter admitted in Medical College Hospital Jammu thus showing utmost trust  boosting the morale of our doctors who are working tirelessly for the suffering humanity.

He further said”  I wished ,  The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu should have taken the lead at this time of crisis but unfortunately they did not” . Hence sensing the gravity of the situation across India and analyzing what is going to hit us soon for which we are not prepared enough , the JPDA decided to give suggestions to our UT Administration and put forth demands that could save precious human lives.

The President JPDA advised and cautioned the Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education Department  Sh. Atal Dulloo IAS please to take proper feed back from the concerned stake holders before telling the media that there was no shortage of Covid 19 treatment medicines. We update the media that in allocation list issued by the GOI on April 21 there was no allocation of Inj. Remdesiver made to the UT of J & K but it was only in the revised allocation list issued on April 24 that 10,500 vial were allotted for J&K that would go directly to the hospitals.. Again on April 27 another allocation list for Inj. Tocilizumab , an imported drug , no allocation has been made for J & K. Mr. Gupta asked the GOI Health Ministry that why such attitude. Do humans not live in J&K.?

The JPDA President also told the media that the decision of the Transporters to go on strike was fully justified. How could the UT administration take unilateral decisions. If the vehicles of the Transporters had to rum on 50% occupancy as per the notification issued by the government then the revised passenger fares should have been raised automatically without waiting for the demand to revise, its simple economics.

The JPDA President appealed to all Traders / Industrialists / Transporters and Hoteliers across J&K  that there is no doubt about the heavy losses suffered by all of us during the Lockdown last year , but we can do business and earn our livelihood “ONLY IF WE LIVE”. The Covid 19 second wave strain is highly contagious  that is spreading like fire and the only possible way to escape it is to the break the chain which is only possible with a complete lockdown.

He also said that our Pharma Association had decided to expose a big nexus between the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority and the Pharma Industry with regard to the pricing of Drugs meant for Nephrology and Oncology  patients thus  looting them  and also the poor and crumbling Health Care Infrastructure in Jammu Province but in the given situation being responsible citizens we think that its not the time for Blame Game and Criticism that could be dealt with later.

The JPDA President warned those people who have been entrusted with installation of Oxygen Generation Plants across Jammu Province in Hospitals  sanctioned by the State UT and urged them to finish their jobs on war footing without further delay as there is hardly any time left before we are hit hard and the Oxygen supplies will fall short in the Hospital.

JPDA also warns some of the officers in different governments departments not to direct any Pharma Wholesaler against Law to supply Covid related treatment medicines to people of their choices.

He further appealed to one and all to remember that “No doubt the Production Capacity of the Manufacturing Units for Covid 19 treatment medicines and related material has been ramped up and Help with  Material supplies from Foreign countries is arriving ….. still the strength of Doctors and Para medical Staff remains the same who are already over burdened.

The JPDA President suggested the following to UT Administration.

• To announce a 7 days complete Lockdown in Union Territory of J&K starting on coming Saturday evening so that ample time is given to one and all to procure essential / Give time to  Tourists to Leave / Give time to Labourers to Settle.
• To appoint district wise Nodal Officers to help  with the Admission of Covid 19 positive patients who need Hospitalization or Medicines.
• To establish area wise FLU OPD’s in open spaces to reduce the burden and risk of Infection in Hospitals.
• To establish facilities for Vaccination in open spaces keeping in mind the temperature required for the Vaccine storage so that the risk of gathering indoors at vaccination centre s reduces.
• To Review the List of Essentials and notify the same.
• To display the availability of OXYGEN Beds across different Hospital though an APP or website.
• To come out with a calendar for opening of essentials dealing outlets on rotational basis.
• To allow movement of Goods Carriers Un interrupted Inter state and intra state.
• To provide lockdown movement passes to the families and guests as per SOP or treat the function E Cards as passes for weddings and allow them for marriage as per rituals at the venues like Hotels / Banquets/ Guest Houses or their Homes.
• To come out with clear cut instructions in the Lockdown notification without any ifs and buts so that no one faces harassment .
• To announce immediate and maximum subsidy for setting up Oxygen Generation Plants in Private Hospitals and Big Nursing Homes.
• To ensure early availability of Inf. Remdesiver across all Hospitals as per the state / UT wise  allocation list  issued by the GOI  .
• To ensure the allocation of Ing. Tocilizumab in the National allocation list.

The JPDA President concluded by appealing to the Hon’ble LG and the Chief Secretary of J&K UT to act now and announce a Complete Lockdown before its too late. He also assured  that the JPDA team was available 24 x 7 for any assistance to the UT,s administration.

The other Office bears of JPDA present at the PC were Sh. Ajay Gupta (Sr.Vice President), Sh. Brijesh Gupta (Vice President), Sh. Rajan Gupta (Secretary General) and Sh. Ravinder Gandaral (Secretary) and Sh.Manmeet Sigh (Treasurer).