With the GST doubling the tax slab, from 6% to 12%, every stockist will have to bear a loss of 6%. PIC FOR REPRESENTATION

It's time to stock up on some basic but important medicines — those for cardiac, orthopaedic and gynaecological issues, anti-diabetes (other than insulin), and blood pressure among others. Your nearest chemist may not have these in stock till the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is enforced from July 1, as wholesalers have stopped placing fresh orders with pharma companies, seeking clarity over the losses they may incur due to doubling of the tax slab under GST, which will impact 50,000 wholesalers and 8 lakh retailers all over India.