New Delhi, May 20: Chemists and druggists across India observed a nationwide strike on Wednesday in protest against online pharmacies and the increasing sale of medicines through digital platforms, triggering disruption in medicine supply in several parts of the country.
The agitation was called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), with traders and pharmacists raising concerns over what they described as inadequate regulation of e-pharmacy platforms operating across the country.
According to the organisation, more than 1.24 million private medical stores were expected to remain closed as part of the protest.
Pharmacists and chemists’ associations alleged that medicines are being sold online without sufficient regulatory oversight and claimed that prescriptions are often not being properly verified before medicines are dispatched to customers.
The protesting groups also questioned whether storage, handling and delivery protocols required under pharmaceutical regulations were being adequately followed by online medicine sellers.
Chemists warned that the rapid expansion of online medicine sales without strict checks could increase risks related to counterfeit drugs, misuse of medicines and unauthorised access to prescription drugs.
Particular concerns were raised regarding the online availability of narcotics and Schedule H medicines, which traditionally require stricter monitoring and prescription verification before sale.
Pharmacists associated with the protest argued that conventional retail chemists function under stringent provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, including mandatory verification of prescriptions and restrictions on dispensing quantities of medicines.
They alleged that online platforms often operate without comparable safeguards, creating uneven regulatory conditions between physical pharmacies and e-pharmacy companies.
Ravi Kumar, associated with the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, said there should be uniform regulations governing both online and offline medicine sales to ensure patient safety and accountability.
Similarly, Prasanna Kumar Singh, President of the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, raised concerns over maintenance of cold chain systems during online deliveries.
He stated that several medicines require strict temperature-controlled storage conditions and alleged that transportation through courier networks could compromise medicine quality and effectiveness if protocols are not properly maintained.
According to pharmacy professionals, improper storage and transportation can reduce the efficacy of temperature-sensitive medicines and, in some situations, potentially make them unsafe for consumption.
The strike reflects growing tension between traditional pharmaceutical retailers and online medicine delivery platforms, which have expanded rapidly in recent years with increasing digital adoption and home delivery demand.
Chemists’ bodies have repeatedly sought stricter enforcement mechanisms and clearer regulatory guidelines governing e-pharmacy operations, arguing that public health concerns should take precedence over commercial expansion.
While private pharmacies remained affected due to the strike call, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendras continued operations across the country.
The PMBJP Retailer Association announced that Jan Aushadhi Kendras would remain functional to ensure uninterrupted access to medicines for patients, particularly those dependent on hospital-linked pharmacies.
Officials stated that Jan Aushadhi outlets attached to major institutions including All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Patna Medical College and Hospital would continue operations despite the nationwide protest.
The decision to keep Jan Aushadhi Kendras open was aimed at minimising inconvenience to patients requiring urgent or essential medicines during the strike period.
The nationwide protest also comes amid broader discussions over regulation of digital healthcare services, including telemedicine, online diagnostics and e-pharmacy operations, sectors that have seen significant growth following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although e-pharmacy companies argue that digital platforms improve accessibility and convenience for consumers, especially in remote areas, traditional chemists maintain that stricter oversight remains necessary to prevent misuse and ensure patient safety.
No immediate response from major e-pharmacy companies was available regarding the strike and the allegations raised by chemists’ associations.
