Manipur Fast Running Out of Life- Saving Drugs Due to Highway Blockade

IMPHAL: The violence-hit state of Manipur in the Northeast of India is fast staring at an acute shortage of life-saving medicines.

The Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association (MCDA) confirmed this alarming development on Friday (May 19).

Manipur’s shortage of essential and life-saving drugs for treatment of patients has been triggered by a blockade on the National Highway 2, which runs into the state.

Life-saving drugs and other medicines being carried by numerous trucks are left stranded, due to the blockade, at Senapati district of Manipur.

It was also informed that many consignments of medicines are still waiting to be transported from Guwahati in Assam.

Speaking about this dire problem, while briefing the media on Friday, MCDA president Rakesh Rajkumar stressed on the concerns expressed by health workers on the problem of fast depleting stocks of essential medicines in Manipur.

Rajkumar also informed that only 40% of the total stocks of required medicines are available in Manipur at present.

The MCDA president said, “From the day communal riot broke out in Manipur on May 3, we are running short on medicines, especially those for diabetes and hypertension.”

People with these health problems are facing problems in procuring their daily requirement of medicines and the situation will only get worse unless supply of essential medicines is not resumed soon.

Coming to know about the shortage of medicines, it has been reported that people opting for panic buying of medicines to tide over this difficult period.

“We urge people not to go for panic buying, because this will result in the remaining stock of medicines run out dry in a very short time,” Rajkumar further added.

He also implored those involved in blocking the highways to “think about those in need for medicines” and asked them to let vehicles carrying drugs and essential supplies to enter Manipur.

The chemists’ association has also urged the Manipur government to take up measures to resolve the matter, the MCDA president also informed.

Rajkumar added that they are, however, still awaiting a response from the government.

It is pertinent to mention here that over 12 trucks on the way to carry medicines into Manipur have been left stranded along National Highway 2.

To further compound the problem, around 40 trucks loaded with medicines consignments are still stranded in Guwahati, awaiting departure to Imphal in Manipur.

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