12.4 lakh chemists to join May 20 shutdown, medicine supply may be hit | India News
NEW DELHI: On May 20, patients across the country may face disruption in purchasing routine medicines as over 12.4 lakh chemists are set for a nationwide shutdown against online drug sales and deep discounts by e-pharmacy platforms.The All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) said the protest was aimed at highlighting the risk to patient safety from unregulated online sale of medicines. The association complained that drugs are being dispensed without proper verification, enabling repeated use of prescriptions and easy access to antibiotics and habit-forming drugs. It warned that AI-generated fake prescriptions and unregulated drug sales could fuel antimicrobial resistance (AMR).The agency has opposed the continuation of the Covid-era relaxation under GSR 220(e), alleging that digital platforms are using the temporary provisions to bypass protections under the drug rules. It demanded withdrawal of both GSR 220(E) and GSR 817(E) related to e-pharmacy operations.Retail pharmacists say deep discounting by large online platforms is threatening the survival of neighborhood chemists, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where local pharmacies remain the first point of access to healthcare. The association claims that around five crore people who depend on the drug trade may be affected.AIOCD president JS Shinde and general secretary Rajeev Singhal said the issue was “not just a trade issue, but a patient safety issue”, warning that the agitation could intensify if no action was taken before May 20.Chemists’ associations said emergency medicines would be available in several areas during the shutdown.
