Medicine supply may face disruption in several parts of the country on May 20. The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) announced a nationwide strike against online pharmacies and instant medicine delivery platforms.
India Pharmacies to Shut Nationwide
The organization claims to represent nearly 12.4 lakh chemists, pharmacists, and drug distributors across India. They say the protest aims to pressure the government to tighten regulations on e-pharmacies.
According to the association, many online medicine platforms are operating without proper legal clarity, which raises concerns about patient safety and unfair business practices.
Why are chemists protesting?
The AIOCD has demanded the withdrawal of two government notifications, GSR 220(E) and GSR 817(E). The organization argues that these provisions have allowed e-pharmacies to operate without a strong regulatory framework.
AIOCD officials express serious concerns about online platforms that allegedly supply medicines based on fake or incorrectly verified prescriptions. They clarify that the association is not against online pharmacies but wants the same strict rules to apply to them as those required of traditional medical stores.
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