KOCHI: A sudden cough after 10 p.m. can put you in trouble if you are in Kochi. For, the city doesn’t have even a single medical shop operating anywhere in the night. Even in an emergency situation, people have no other option but to run from pillar to post to save their dear one’s life. Though there are in-house pharmaceutical stores in most hospitals, it is seldom that these stores have all the prescribed medicines. In most cases, the drugs are only available at shops outside the hospital which people find it hard to get after 10.30 p.m. Mahesh Nair, a businessman from Vytilla, says drug shops should be opened alternatively so that people get necessary medicines. “Most of the time, a particular medicine may not be available at night which could worsen things,” he said. Aswathy, who had to buy medicines for her aunt late in the night, had the terrible experience. Only the next day could she get the medicines. All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association secretary Antony Tharian says the shortage of staff and pharmacists to work late night was the main reason for not opening shops in the night. “Moreover, security is another factor that prompts the owners to down the shutters before it is too late. Those who come in search of banned drugs create problems too,” he said. However, Tharian said that it was necessary that drug stores be opened at night so that people would not face any hardships. He said the association would seriously look into it and take a decision soon. “As in other places in the state, we would look into whether drug stores in different places could be opened alternatively which could be of much help,” he said. All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association district office-bearer Abdul Jaleel said it was only in certain pockets of the city that such a situation arises as almost all private hospitals have in-house pharmaceutical stores. District Medical Officer R Sudhakaran said he had not come across any complaints related to the non-functioning of medical shops at night. He added that medical stores in the city could function like that in Kothamangalam where the stores in alternative days would remain open in the night. “If there is any complaint on this issue, then we would report this to the Drug Control Bureau,” he said. Ernakulam General Hospital superintendent Junaid Rahman said the issue was very serious and should be addressed soon. He added that the medical shops should be opened in rotation-formula at different places. In the district, there are about 750 retail medical stores and in the city, there are over 220 stores.
Comments
0 comment