Chemists in several parts of Punjab closed their shops on Wednesday following a nationwide strike call given by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. The protest was held against alleged unregulated practices and deep discounting by online pharmacy companies.
Medical stores remained closed in many areas, including Fatehgarh Sahib, Amritsar, Moga and Hoshiarpur. Chemists said the shutdown was aimed at highlighting irregularities in the online medicine sector and policies that they believe are affecting small traders.
Nearly 1,300 chemists in Hoshiarpur district observed the strike from midnight. The protest resulted in a complete closure of both retail and wholesale medicine shops, said District Chemists Association president and Punjab Chemists Association spokesperson Raman Kapoor. He said the strike got support from the Punjab unit of the Indian Medical Association and the All India Federation of Medical Representatives Associations.
He also claimed that under the cover of online trade, concerns were growing about the sale of spurious and habit-forming medicines. He also accused e-pharmacy companies of functioning in an illegal and unregulated manner.
Kapoor said as per rules, medicines should be sold only against a valid prescription and in the presence of a pharmacist or registered medical practitioner. However, he claimed that online platforms were delivering medicines directly to consumers through courier services, which raises serious concerns.
He further said heavy discounts offered by large online pharmacy companies were hurting the livelihood of small chemists and causing financial losses within the domestic market.
Kapoor added that a memorandum listing their concerns would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner and addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also claimed that the strike witnessed near-total participation from chemists across the district.
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