Manipur facing shortage of life saving drugs, trucks stranded due to blockade in Kangpokpi

Manipur is facing a shortage of 40% in medicine stocks. 12 medicine trucks are stranded on the highway, while 40 trucks are to be loaded in Guwahati

BY DONALD SAIREM

Manipur may soon run out of essential medicines and life-saving drugs owing to the reported blockade of National Highway-2 in Kangpokpi. The state is currently facing a shortage in medicine stocks of at least 40 per cent, Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association said today.

“We are facing a shortage of medicine especially for diabetes, hypertension and other life- saving drugs. People are panick buying. So we are requesting them don’t buy any medicine out of panic. Buy just what you want. If you do panic buying, soon stores will run out of medicines and people in real need will not get it,” Rakesh Rajkumar, President of the Association said addressing the media today in Imphal.

As per information available with the MCDA, 12 medicine trucks are stranded on the highway, while 40 trucks are to be loaded in Guwahati. Although the government has arranged for the alternative NH-37 Imphal-Jiribam, but the Chemists and Druggists Association said that transportation through this route is quite expensive. The MCDA president said,”Imphal Jiribam can be used as alternative but transport cost is high. On the other hand, we cannot increase our MRP (retail price), that is the problem. Coming from Jiribam is highly costly as compared to coming from Dimapur side.”

The Association said that it has already raised the matter with the Manipur government and is waiting for a response.

The MCDA also appealed those blocking the National Highway to allow movement of trucks. “My message is to those who are blocking highways, please think of people and kindly let all those stranded trucks get into Imphal. This my simple request. We all are human beings, we all are mortal. So we request to kindly release all those stranded trucks to reach Imphal. This is my earnest request to all my brothers who are blocking the highway trucks.”

COMMENTS