Dawai Dost shopkeepers stage protest

Ranchi: Dawai Dost — the retail chain of shops selling generic medicines at 18 counters in the city — took out a candlelight march with the support of its customers on Sunday to protest the decision of the Rims administration to shut the counter on its campus.
All 18 counters of the retail chain were shut at 5.30 pm instead of the normal 8.30 pm and the shopkeepers gathered on the Rims campus holding candles and recited the National Anthem. One of the protesting members said they have been selling generic medicines at rates cheaper than Jan-aushadhi kendra, which also sells generic medicines.
“Hundreds of patients admitted at Rims cannot afford costly and branded medicines and for them, Dawai Dost had been a lifesaver for many years. It is completely illogical to force us to shut our counter,” the protester said.
Earlier this week, the matter was also taken up by the high court which sought a response from the Rims authority to inform what plans are in place to make affordable medicines available to the patients coming to the hospital after it ordered Dawai Dost to stop its operations there.