Empty strip of tablet sold

TABLETS MISSING FROM BLISTER STRIP; RETAILER REFUSES TO ENTERTAIN COMPLAINT, CONSUMER LEFT WITH HOBSON’S CHOICE

Mr Somen wanted to purchase some medicines for his wife, prescribed by a Doctor. He purchased those Medicines from a reputed pharmaceutical shop near Ganesh Temple at Aberdeen Bazaar. The prescribed dose of 30 tablets was supplied to him in 3 blister strips containing 10 tabs each against cash bill.

After consumption of 20 tablets, his wife picked up the third strip and pushed open the first blister and surprisingly found it empty. Puzzled she opened the second location which also was found empty. Thereafter both of them examined each of the remaining blisters and found all of them to be empty; ie tablets were missing from each of the 10 blisters in the strip.

He visited the pharmaceutical shop the next day along with the empty strip, cash memo and narrated the shocking discovery. After inspection, the shopkeeper said since the strip was broken, post sales complaint cannot be entertained. Mr Somen explained, since the strip was backed by aluminum foil on both sides, visual detection of the fault stood over-ruled. Hence, only after breaking the blister it was found to be empty. To reassure, they had to break open the second location which also was empty. Therefore the remaining 8 blister locations were not opened but physically examined and found empty.

Despite the concrete evidence in hand, the shopkeeper declined to accept deficiency in service and put the blame on the manufacturer. She informed the defective strip would be sent to the company at mainland and only if the company sends a replacement, it could be given to the customer. The shopkeeper also insisted that if he needs those 10 tablets, fresh payment has to be made forthwith.

Mr Somen, born and brought up in these islands was aware taking up the matter with the manufacturer at mainland, (however rigorous the follow-up be) would take at-least a couple of fortnights, if not months. Further being employed as a Junior Radiographer in a Govt Hospital for more than a decade and a half, he was well aware how important it is for the patient to follow the dose and the schedule prescribed by the doctor.

It was quite a bit disturbing that a pharmaceutical retailer which had been in the business of selling life saving drugs for long could offer such a remedy (to wait indefinitely for the mainland based manufacturer to replace the empty strip of medicine) which if followed could result in loss of time causing ir-reparable damage to the health and well being of the patient. All those Chemists, Druggists, Pharmacists, Paramedics and their likes dealing with medicines and health care services are expected to be well aware of the importance of following the dose/schedule prescribed by doctor.

Mr Somen therefore decided he would not be swayed by the un-professional attitude of the retailer, hence opted to buy another set of tablets. He was taken aback, as the retailer informed that only 5 tablets were available with the shop. Whereas, to complete the prescribed dose 10 tablets were needed. He thus purchased 10 tablets from another shop and returned home with a shocking story to tell.

Readers will agree the trauma faced by Mr Somen and his wife isn’t one of its kind. Many such incidents occur, but say it “ignorance” on the part of the consumer towards its rights or “reluctance” to stand for its rights, the one flouting norms could afford duping consumers on their face. Mr Somen has preferred a written complaint which the shopkeeper received, but did not reply. He is now contemplating to put the matter before the consumer forum. We shall follow the developments in the days to come.

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