HUBBALLI: Whether there is a lockdown or not, medical stores will function, with their staff being exposed to Covid patients or their primary/ secondary contacts.
They can also turn agents to spread the virus.
Due to restrictions and lockdown, they are now working from 6am till late night, while some remain open 24×7.
As pharmacists are not considered as Covid warriors, they are now deprived of benefits that are available for other healthcare workers.
C Jayaram, president, Karnataka Pharma Retailers’ and Distributors’ Organisation (KPRDO, Bengaluru), said their consistent follow-up over the last year has made the government start vaccinating them recently.
“Traditional pharma fraternity is serving the public since independence and without getting any financial assistance from the government.
Pharmacies are always considered under essential service category, and we are committed to giving health service to people.
However, neither the Union government nor the state government has considered us as frontline Covid warriors,” he rued.
Ravindra Bhusnur and Virupakshappa Kapparshettar, office-bearers of KPRDO in Hubballi, said that chemists and pharmacists work in unsafe environment.
“We can’t make out those with illness or force all customers to show Covid negative certificate.
Though we ensure social distancing and the mask rule are followed, there is always a high risk of getting infected with Coronavirus.
As we are bread-winners, the government should extend benefits meant for Covid warriors in the interest of our dependants.
We have already approached the state government in this regard.
We will bring this to the notice of the Union government by mail,” they added.