Imphal, May 19: Manipur has been facing an acute shortage of life-saving drugs after the ethnic violence, which hit the state since May 3.
On May 19, the Manipur Chemist and Druggist Association (MCDA) urged the state government to take immediate step for the supply of essential drugs.
Talking to media persons, MCDA President R.K. Rakesh said that around 12 trucks carrying essential medicines are stranded between Mao and Senapati while another 14 trucks are stuck in Guwahati.
Rakesh added that the situation has been exacerbated due to panic buying by a large number of people and hoarding by a section of traders.
The MCD president informed that if this medicine crisis does not resolve the issue within the next 3-4 days, a dire shortage of life-saving drugs would create dangerous problems for the ailing people in the state.
Meanwhile, some pharmaceutical companies have taken steps to airlift drugs, but the volume of consignments is limited, rendering this measure insufficient to meet the demand.
According to reports, some tribal people and organisations as part of their non-cooperation against the state government are also blockading the National Highways, causing serious difficulties for movement of the goods laden trucks.
The MCDA earlier raised the issue with Manipur Health Minister Sapam Ranjan, but no concrete steps have been taken so far.
