Medicine shops' strike called off in Bihar

Medicine shops across Bihar on Thursday resumed normal business as a three-day strike that began on the previous day was called off after an assurance from the state government that concerns raised by the association of chemists and druggists will be squarely addressed.

According to a statement issued by the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, the decision to call off the strike was taken late Wednesday night after its delegation met state health minister Mangal Pandey.

The association, which has been livid over making mandatory the deputation of a pharmacist at every medical store, because of an inadequate number of such professionals, was told by the minister that the provision was introduced "in accordance with a central law".

"The health minister gave an assurance that he would meet the Union health minister to find a way out until the deficit of pharmacists was made up for.

"He also said that at present there were two colleges in the state with approved pharmacy courses and a move was afoot to set up another 22," the association said in the statement, signed by its president P K Singh and general secretary Amarendra Kumar Singh.

The minister has also assured that police and health department officials will be restrained from causing harassment in the name of inspections, the association claimed.