The Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association (UCDA) has urged the Central Government to delink the www.aarogyasetumitr.in from the Aarogya Setu App and stop promoting “illegal” e-pharmacies.
“The Arogya Setu App was primarily created to inform common people about Covid -19 positive persons near them. The UCDA also supports it. But addition of a link www.aaroavasetumitr.in to promote e-pharmacies is highly illegal and arbitrary,” said UCDA general secretary Prasanta Mohapatra.
Mohapatra said all 25,000 members of the UCDA have opposed the backdoor entry of the baseless marketing and commercial promotion of illegal e-pharmacy entities going on by the NITI Aayog. He said various High Courts have passed orders against the Central Government and E-pharmacy operation without law.
“The Government has an illusion that e-pharmacies are reaching out to customer at their doorsteps. But it should understand that local chemists serve people day and night when normal operations are paralysed during natural calamities. During Covid-19 lockdown 1.0, e-pharmacies had to shut their operations as transporters and courier agencies were off the field,” pointed out Mohapatra.
“The NITI Aayog is promoting foreign-funded entities. It will devastate livelihood of our 25,000 local chemists, who are maintaining uninterrupted supply of medicines to 4.5 crores of people,” said Mohapatra.