Chemists call for strike on Sept 28 against online medicine sale

Mumbai: All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggist (AIOCD), announced that they plan to strike on September 28 to oppose online sale of medicines.

"We are observing one day strike on Friday, September 28 to protest against any move by the government allowing sale of medicines through internet or allowing e-pharmacies to operate in India in any form," AIOCD said in a statement here.

If the government does not consider our appeal positively then AIOCD shall not have any option but to go for nationwide indefinite agitation against online sale of medicine, AIOCD president JS Shinde said.

The serious, among many concerns brought out by AIOCD were not only commercial business loss of its members, but online sale of medicines if allowed, it would be hazardous to the public health at large, more



importantly the tech-savvy young generation of our country may have irreparable damage, the release said.

We have made repeated appeals by memorandums to the government, concern ministers, and departments, state food and drug administration citing "numerous cases of illegal online sale of medicines" by so called e-pharmacies, and portals and observed twice a one day all India chemists bandh to sensitise the seriousness of this issue, Shinde said.

We expect transparent open-minded policies and not 'crony capitalism', for few big players, he added.

Drug prices are regulated, controlled by the government with DPCO. Total trade margin is restricted 16 per cent to retailers and 10 per cent to wholesalers. It is observed that online players offer discount up to 50 to 70 per cent openly, he pointed out.