Medical stores across India pull shutters; Calls for nationwide 'Bandh', here's why

(AIOCD) on Friday has called for a day-long nationwide strike against Centre's move to regularise online pharmacies in India.

Several medicine shop owners are opposing to the foreign direct investment (FDI) in online pharmacy. (Image: ANI)

The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) on Friday has called for a day-long nationwide strike against Centre's move to regularise online pharmacies in India. Following the announcement several medical stores across the country remained closed in order to protest against permission of online sales of medicines. Several medicine shop owners are opposing to the foreign direct investment (FDI) in online pharmacy as it makes the market weak by predatory pricing to wipe out the competition. These store owners also believe that in the later phase online pharmacists will charge customers exorbitantly. Medical shops in various parts of the country including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Karnataka etc. were closed on Friday. Addressing a press conference earlier this week, PS Patnaik, General Secretary, Chemists and Druggists Association of India (Krishna district, Vijaywada) informed that all 3,500 medical stores in the district would remain closed on Friday. Patnaik also believes that the permit to online sales of medicine would affect the livelihood of around 8 lakh pharmacists and 80 lakh people who are completely dependent on the tradition retailing of medicines. He also stated that online sales of medicines without recommendation of druggists can be hazardous to the health of people. According to a report by ANI, even medical stores in Patna (Bihar) were closed on Friday. Government’s draft notification on online sale of medicines says: “Any person who intends to conduct business of e-pharmacy shall apply for the grant of registration to the Central Licensing Authority in Form 18AA through the online portal of the Central government.” However, the government has not allowed sale of psychotropic drugs, tranquillisers, narcotics etc.

Bihar: Chemist shops closed in Patna as All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has called for a day-long nationwide strike against Centre's move to regularise online pharmacies pic.twitter.com/CCRgclkMIZ

— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2018

Drug prices in India is regulated by the government, but online retailers offer up to 70 per cent discount on the same against the 10 per cent discount given by the wholesalers. Even in the national capital, more than 12,000 medical stores are said to be closed and druggists and wholesalers are likely to conduct a protest march to Jantar Mantar on October 14. Speaking about the same, AIOCD Vice President Surender Duggal told PTI that despite the complaints made by the AIOCD, online pharmacies are supplying the goods like MTP kits and anti-depression drugs among others without confirming the authenticity of the prescription and patient.