Medicine supplies delayed as doorstep delivery halts in Mumbai, Thane

TNN | Updated: Apr 5, 2020, 09:22 IST

Picture for representational purpose only.

MUMBAI: Availability of daily essentials continues to remain sporadic owing to a shortage of transportation, drivers and loaders. A matter of growing anxiety is the delay in supply of essential medicines to local chemists. Drug stores in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai are reporting procurement delays.
Factories are facing hitches in manufacturing due to non-availability of Chinese raw material. Also, local labourers, loaders and drivers are back to their hometowns, causing delays in delivery.
People queued up at medical stores in Thane's Vasant Vihar on Saturday. "We usually buy a month's medicines online, but this time they said it will take nine days for delivery. So we stepped out to buy ourselves," said one resident.
A member of the Thane chemist and druggist association said there is shortage due to lack of manpower to transport new stock to distributors and retailers. "Also, many have stockpiled large quantities fearing they will be out of stock," he said.
Navi Mumbai chemists also point to a demand-supply mismatch. They also accuse cops of troubling retailers while transporting medicines in private vehicles.
Questions are being raised about hoarding. Ghansoli resident Samadhan Patil said, "I had to wait for two days to get tablets for my father who is diabetic. The local store reported that doorstep delivery has stopped..."
Wholesalers say shortage of manpower has derailed the delivery system though medicines are available.
Sunil Chhajed, secretary of Navi Mumbai Medical Association said, "There's no shortage of medicines. But lack of manpower has prompted us to stop doorstep delivery which is inconveniencing our retailers."
NMMC chief Annasaheb Misal said, "Wholesalers should restore doorstep delivery xwith their own transportation facility to avoid crowds gathering at their shops...."