Chemists to stage strike on Wednesday over online pharmacies

The top body of chemists and druggists, the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which has around 7,00,000 members in the country, has called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday to protest against online pharmacies. "We have decided to go for nationwide strike of chemists on October 14 to protect health of general public as well as interest of our members," AIOCD president J S Shinde announced.

Online pharmacies in India have increased significantly due to growing e-commerce in the country. An online pharmacy is an internet-based vendor of prescription drugs and is flourishing because of the absence of regulation.
 
"We strongly oppose the move of the government to regularise sale of medicines through internet i.e. e-pharmacy in the larger public interest. It is illegal to sell medicines on internet under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940," said Shinde.

The introduction of e-pharmacy, to protect the interest of a handful of players, would hamper the interest of 8,00,000 chemists and 8 million workers and their families, Shinde said. He alleged that online pharmacies were supplying goods like I-pill, MTP kits, anti-depression pills, codeine cough syrup, etc., without confirming the authenticity of prescription and patients.

The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration had recently raided 27 online pharmacies located in Mumbai, Thane and Pune and seized drugs worth crores of rupees.