Uttar Pradesh - Patints suffer as chemists down shutters in anti-VAT protest

Thousands of patients in Uttar Pradesh hospitals have been denied access to medicines after chemists protesting enforcement of Value Added Tax continued a strike for a second day across the state.

Said Suresh Gupta, general secretary of Chemists and Druggists Federation of Uttar Pradesh: "Not only wholesalers, but even retailers observed the strike."

Barring a shop run by the state-owned Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University and Medical College in the capital, all shops even in remote areas of the state capital remained closed for the second day Sunday.

"Even the state-run shop has exhausted its stock," an official said.

Federation members claimed that they were not against VAT per se but were against the strict regime that entailed the implementation of the VAT.

"The new system was causing harassment to chemists and druggists; we have therefore suggested certain amendments," Gupta pointed out.

He said; "Provision of tax audit under VAT is quite complex and is making things extremely cumbersome for retailers."

Supporting their cause, homoeopathic medicine traders have also threatened to join the shutdown.

Source : Khabrein.info - New Delhi, Delhi, India, dated 20/01/2008