An umbrella body of druggists and chemists today announced a nationwide strike on October 14 to demand action from the central government against "illegal" online sale of medicine.
The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which has eight lakh member chemists across the country, will observe a bandh this Friday to oppose central government's move to regularise online sale of medicines, AIOCD president J S Shinde said here at a press conference.
"The government's move towards regularising the sale of medicines through internet would increase the risk of adverse drug reaction, which will give an opening for the entry of low-quality, mis-branded and spurious products. Entering of low-quality products will have a major setback economically, which is estimated to hit eight lakh chemists and about 80 lakh workers and their families," he said.
Insisting that the government should crackdown on any online sale of medicines as it raises the risk of misuse of drugs, AIOCD secretary Suresh Gupta said, "Presently online pharmacy business is going illegally and government authorities are not taking any action against it."
"Hence, we have no other alternative than to go on strike to protect the health of general public," he said.
The one-day nationwide strike called by AIOCD will also include over 12,000 medicine retailers observing the bandh in Delhi, the association said.
"Coming out in support of the nationwide strike called by the AIOCD to protest online sale of drugs, more than 12,000 chemists and wholesalers in the city (Delhi) will keep their shops closed on October 14 and participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar," Retailers and Distributors Chemists Association president Sandeep Nangia said.
