Most wholesalers are in Sadashiv Peth; association asks shops to stock for a month. Police say bulk supply will be allowed, but storage units should be moved out of the cityThe effects of a more stringent lockdown in the heart of the city have led to a disruption in the supply of medicines to pharmaceutical stores across Pune. Despite these items falling into the essential category, wholesalers are unable to move stocks smoothly out of the Peth areas amid curfew, to deliver to stores.

Now, Chemists Association members have demanded that retailers stock up on medicines for a month and asked that wholesale supply be made available to them. While cops have said theyll facilitate movement, they also asked chemists to relocate their storage spaces for bulk inventory to the outskirts, to avoid crowding.

After PMC sealed several city areas on Monday, the Peths have been very difficult to move in and out of for delivery agents (inset). Chemists in various city areas now fear they are set to run out of of medicines and other health items like sanitary napkins

In this process, Sadashiv Peth has also been sealed off. Since most wholesale chemist stores are located here, they are now finding it difficult to supply medicines as per demand to retailers, resulting in a shortage of medicines at shops across the city.

Preferring to stay unnamed, the owner of Sai Medicals based in Hadapsar shared, Procuring medicines was already difficult due to the lockdown. With this curfew, our delivery boys are now not even able to cross Swargate. Since wholesale shops are in Sadashiv Peth, it has become impossible to get anything. Slowly, we are running out of stock.

With medicines, several other essential health products like sanitary napkins are also elusive. From Sinhagad Road, Chetan Sharma of Chetan Medicals, added, There is lot of confusion in this lockdown. So, many delivery staffers also refused to turn up. There are barricades in several areas. But, we have managed to send our delivery agents to get the required material today. Tomorrow is another story. We are already facing a shortage of supply by 10 per cent.

Meanwhile, wholesalers are struggling to keep up with orders, as police barricades have sealed off all lanes to halt vehicular movement. Next door, Shaniwar Peth and parts of Kasba Peth are also sealed. Considering this, association members have requested all chemists to stock up, so that they will not face issues in coming weeks. Anil Belkar, secretary, Chemists Association, said, Normally, we get as per needs and those amounts are sup-plied. For now, doctors are also asking many patients to continue with the same medication, so demand is measurable. But, chemists need to take a round up and stock for the next 15 days or a month. Delivery boys are reluctant, so supply will get hampered.

Cops have advised chemists to change storage locations. Joint commissioner of police (CP) for Pune city, Ravindra Shisve, clarified, Association members are constantly in touch with our DCPs. We will decide timings for vehicular movement and facilitate only bulk supply. We are also advising chemists to opt for storage for this supply in the outskirts, so that there is minimal human movement in the containment zone. In the given situation, reducing this movement is the need of the hour.

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Curfew in Peths affects medicine supply to city - Pune Mirror