LUCKNOW: Wholesale markets of medicines in Aminabad and Chowk have been shut for five days due to shortage of workers and inadequate supply from manufacturers. As a result, retail chemist shops in the city are running out of stock.
Wholesalers said that while some employees are not coming out of fear, others are finding difficult to move out due to curbs. “Passes issued by the district administration for some of their employees will help in restarting the operation, but the larger issue is supply of medicines from manufacturers based in other states as well as from other parts of UP,” they said and added that authorities concerned have assured them of solving the problem at the earliest. TOI reality check found that retailers at many places have closed down their shops after their stock dried up. Some big retailers have a backup of 10-15 days but the high demand due to stockpiling by people is adding to the problem.
Ramesh Chandra, a distributor of medicines in Chowk, said that he has staff strength of 18 workers apart from daily wagers whom he deploys to pick up and drop consignments. But only four of them are coming to office. Similarly, Mohammed Nasir, wholesaler of surgical goods in medicine market in Aminabad, said, “Neither we are getting supply from outside nor our local brands are able to meet the rising demand.”
He said that he had placed an order to a company located in Transport Nagar on March 21, but the order is yet to be executed.
Most of the wholesalers said that they have informed senior district officers about the crisis and they have assured help at the earliest.
Wholesalers said that while some employees are not coming out of fear, others are finding difficult to move out due to curbs. “Passes issued by the district administration for some of their employees will help in restarting the operation, but the larger issue is supply of medicines from manufacturers based in other states as well as from other parts of UP,” they said and added that authorities concerned have assured them of solving the problem at the earliest. TOI reality check found that retailers at many places have closed down their shops after their stock dried up. Some big retailers have a backup of 10-15 days but the high demand due to stockpiling by people is adding to the problem.
Ramesh Chandra, a distributor of medicines in Chowk, said that he has staff strength of 18 workers apart from daily wagers whom he deploys to pick up and drop consignments. But only four of them are coming to office. Similarly, Mohammed Nasir, wholesaler of surgical goods in medicine market in Aminabad, said, “Neither we are getting supply from outside nor our local brands are able to meet the rising demand.”
He said that he had placed an order to a company located in Transport Nagar on March 21, but the order is yet to be executed.
Most of the wholesalers said that they have informed senior district officers about the crisis and they have assured help at the earliest.
