Amritsar, July 7 (K.L. Jit Walia):The Punjab Chemists Association (Regd.), affiliated with the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), has submitted a detailed memorandum to Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, urging immediate administrative and policy reforms concerning the chemist community. The association stated that the concerns of more than 1.2 million chemists across the state require urgent government attention.
In the memorandum, signed by Association President Surinder Duggal and General Secretary G.S. Chawla, it was mentioned that these issues had already been raised during a meeting with senior Health Department officials on May 21, 2026, but no concrete action has been taken so far.
The association’s key demands include:
Implementation of a uniform drug policy for independent chemists and corporate pharmacy chains.
Removal of the mandatory Schedule H1 Register requirement.
Strict action against the unauthorised online sale of medicines through unapproved apps.
Resolution of issues related to the ONDLS portal.
Relaxation in the renewal of pharmacist licences for long-serving chemists by accepting an affidavit-based process.
The association also highlighted that Punjab’s chemist community has consistently supported the government by ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services and actively participating in public welfare initiatives, disaster relief during floods, and campaigns such as “Drug-Free Punjab.” Therefore, it urged the government to give priority to their genuine demands.
The Punjab Chemists Association has requested an early meeting with Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh and expressed hope that the long-pending issues of the chemist community will be resolved at the earliest.
KL JIT WALIA
