Chennai: Pharmacists seem to be in confusion. They are divided on the billing and levying of tax on drugs after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). There is no uniformity in the billing system with some pharmacies selling medicines at MRP are yet to bill as per GST rates, while others are charging a tax of 12 per cent.
Customers were denied bills at some medical shops as online invoices are not being generated due to non-updating of systems. Chemists said that they are giving kutchha bills if customers demand it.
“Medicines cannot be sold at rates above MRP till August and should not be increased by chemists on their own. Before the revision of prices, drugs should be made available at MRP,” J. Jayaseelan, chairman, Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association, told Deccan Chronicle.
Among shops that sold medicines as per GST rates, many issued bills without the GST number, even though they claimed they had registered themselves on the network. “We are registered on the network but cannot resort to online invoicing until we have sold the old stocks of medicine. We are confused whether the old stock can be billed on the network,” says Bala G., owner of a pharmacy in Perambur.
The scenario will change only in September with pharmaceutical distributors saying that fresh stocks would be available only by the end of August.
Helpline turns futile
The toll-free help line number (18001039271) launched for resolving
GST-related queries made available in languages including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada and Malayalam, remained unresponsive to the numerous calls of the public.
Though State government stated in an earlier statement that GSTN help line (01204888999) and Commercial Taxes Help Line (18001036751) will be
available 24*7, medical retailers, shop owners and even common people
complained of unavailability of representatives for
assistance.
Chemists see data migration to new software a hurdle
One major issue concerning the non-uniformity of billing system at pharmacies is the lack of awareness to operate the new software and migrate the data as per the new system. Chemists and druggists are facing trouble to update the bills and obtain registration codes of products.
“Implementing a new system, registering on a new software and following new tax rates are not enough to turn it practical. We need to be trained to use the software to overcome the practical difficulties,” says S. Ramachandran, president, Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association.
Even after registering on the network, some chemist shops were unable to issue an online invoice. Pharmacies were seen struggling with the migration of data to the new system and updating online codes of medicines.
“Owing to ignorance, even after registration, we are failing in generating bills for people,” said Murugan S, a chemist shop owner in Teynampet.
The retailers also mentioned about the lack of supply from wholesalers, post-GST, fear a shortage of drugs in pharmacies. “We do not have any supply for the day from wholesalers, we might have to deny the customers of even the critical-care drugs, if the situation continues for a few more days,” says a medicine retailer in Alandur.
However, when Indian Drugs Manufacturers’ Association was contacted, officials said that adequate stocks were available for the month, and arrangements are being made to overcome the difficulties faced on the ground level by wholesalers and retailers. The association is to conduct workshops in the coming week about the use of GSTN software application.
