CHEMISTS & DRUGGISTS ASSOCIATION

Chennaibest.com speaks to K. Radhakrishnan and R.G.Pasupathy of the Chemists and Druggists Asssociation, Chennai. This 3,000-member association, that covers all Pharmaceutical retail outlets and distributors in the city, was the first such body to be formed in the country.

Today, both mean the same. Earlier the chemist was different from the druggist. The druggist is the same as the compounder. The chemist was the one who used to stir the mixtures and other chemical formulations. This distinction is not so relevant today.

At a time when associations were very few in the country and there was not a single one for chemists and druggists in the entire country, an enterprising medical representative from Chennai, Srinivasa Iyengar, a resident of Triplicane, started in 1926 an association for the Chemists and Druggists in Chennai, with just eighty-seven members. It eventually led to the formation of similar associations in the rest of the country. Today, apart from this association in the city, we have district level associations all over the state and the main association is in Mumbai, with a membership of nearly five and a half lakh retailers all over the country.

This association covers the entire city. We have divided the city into 22 divisions. Kancheepuram and Chingelput also come under our jurisdiction.

We ensure that our members get the best deal. We take care of the welfare of the pharmacies in Chennai. Any important official communication is first sent to us. We keep our members informed of all the changes in the official policies and its implications for the retailers. We also help the members in resolving legal issues in case anything crops up on this front. We give group protection to the members. We circulate official information to our members even before it becomes operational. For instance, in September 2000, the government had banned haemoglobin combination items. But we informed our members six months in advance, so that they could avoid unnecessary stock piling and avoid losses. In that sense, we act as messengers for the retailers and the government.

We have an educational trust. We also have a college (C L Baid Mehta College, Thoriapakkam), which offers courses in pharmacy. Our members can avail the facilities of this institution.

Any one who owns a medical shop in Chennai is eligible to be a member. To start a medical shop, one needs a license from the Government of India. As for the membership details, it is Rs. 1000/- for a life member and Rs.150/- per annum for the ordinary membership.

A minimum investment of Rs 3-4 lakh is needed. For large-scale business, an investment of Rs 5-6 lakh is needed.

Approximately 2,500.

In this aspect, a medical shop is similar to a grocery shop. Just as the supermarket and departmental stores have not displaced small grocery outlets, 24-hour pharmacies and transactions through the net will not eliminate small to medium retail medical outlets in the city. I can cite many reasons for it. Not many would have the purchasing power or would be informed well enough to utilise these modern methods of buying medicines. Another reason is the uneven development of the city itself. It will be extremely difficult for these modern outlets to flourish in North Chennai. In South Chennai, of course they can make their presence felt. So, the retail outlets will continue to flourish. I personally feel, checking the stock is easier if the transactions are done manually.

Address:30, West Cott Road, Bhattad Towers, Royapettah. Chennai 600 014
Phone: 852 8891

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