Aushadhi kendras provide succour

LUCKNOW : Though the medicine traders’ strike was announced in advance, yet many people were caught unawares and had to run from pillar to post looking for the medicines they required, on Friday.

“I had no idea that medical stores will be closed for the entire day,” said Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Gomti Nagar. “The shopkeepers nearby told me I can get medicine at the pharmacy of a private hospital which is a kilometre away. I will now go there,” he said. Kumar was not the only one to face problems during the chemists’ strike.

However, the Jan Aushadhi kendras and pharmacies at private hospitals remained opened. People visited these shops to get medicines for immediate need. In Lucknow, Jan Aushadhi kendras have recently begun operating at Civil Hospital, Balrampur Hospital, Rani Laxmi Bai Hospital and Lok Bandhu hospital.

But even these shops were not a big relief as they had medicines stocked as per their sales requirement.

“We keep all basic drugs but many people came today with prescriptions for medicines which we could not provide,” said a sales person at a Jan Aushadhi kendra.

Anubhav, who was looking for a medicine for his father, went from Gomti Nagar to Aliganj but could not find one open. “I think I will have to wait till evening when some might open,” he said.

In the evening several chemists opened the shops.