the goan I network
MAPUSA
Raising apprehensions of government bid to give backdoor entry to a Mumbai-based pharma company in the State, workers of Goa Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (GAPL)have appealed to politicians across the board to save the Goan public sector company from losing out to a private entity.
Goa Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd Workers Union Secretary Shripad Gadekar alleged that in the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, there were attempts to give a Mumbai-based pharma company a foothold in the State.
“By giving entry to the Mumbai-based company, the government is trying to destroy the business of Goa-based public sector pharma company, which was started by former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane in 1984,” alleged Gadekar, while addressing a news conference in Mapusa.
Gadekar also alleged that the government has directed the management of the company to shift the present location of the Goa Antibiotics pharmacy in GMC to the adjacent building of Yatri Niwas.
“If our pharmacy is shifted from the present location, there will be tremendous impact on the business of Goa Antibiotics pharmacy,”
he said.
He said presently Goa Antibiotics used to supply medicines to beneficiaries of the Deen Dayal (health) scheme and to all government health centres around the State.
He alleged that the government was planning to stop this and extend the facility to a Mumbai-based company.
According to Gadekar, the entry of the Mumbai-based company will not only affect the business of Goa Antibiotics but also lead to job loss
for Goans.
Referring to the government’s pet refrain of Goem, Goenkar and Goemkarponn, he said in this case the government appeared to put a Goan company down and give fillip to a Mumbai-based
company.
He said after facing financial challenges in the initial years of its inception, GAPL was doing very well of late after Hindustan Latex, a central government entity took a majority share in the company.
Gadekar said Goa Antibiotics posted Rs 8-9 crore last year and Rs 3 crore profit a year before that.
GAPL Workers Union President Dhananjay Narse, Treasurer Sharad Naik and member Babaji Amelkar were
also present at the news
conference.
