GST hiccups stay for distributors, chemists

One month after the roll out of the goods and services tax (GST), the stocking of medicines has not stabilised.

Chemists in Delhi said they were not comfortable packing their shelves because incentives provided to them in the pre-GST regime were no longer on offer.

“Most companies are not compensating for the losses made by distributors in their closing inventory. In turn, distributors are pushing the burden on the retailer,” said a chemist in east Delhi.

Chemists added the shortage was mostly in drugs of common use.

The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) said stockists were maintaining a lean inventory of three