Nationwide chemists’ strike today to oppose online pharmacy

The All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) has called a nationwide chemists’ strike on Tuesday demanding action from the Centre against “illegal” online sale of medicines. “We have decided to go for <g data-gr-id="27">nationwide</g> strike on October 14 to protect <g data-gr-id="28">health</g> of <g data-gr-id="29">general</g> public as well as <g data-gr-id="30">interest</g> of our 8.5 lakh chemists in 30 states,” AIOCD President J S Shinde said here.

“We may resort to indefinite <g data-gr-id="26">strike,</g> if the Centre fails to resolve the issue immediately,” he said. The AIOCD President said we strongly oppose the government’s move to regularise sale of medicines through <g data-gr-id="25">internet</g> that is ‘e-Pharmacy’ in larger public interest.

However, Shinde claimed it was illegal to sell medicines on <g data-gr-id="22">internet</g> under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. “The threat of drug addiction in youth looms large due to <g data-gr-id="20">easy</g> availability of drugs through <g data-gr-id="21">internet</g> and irrational use of medicines,” he added.

An online pharmacy is an internet-based vendor of prescription drugs. Recently, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has raided 27 online pharmacies located in Mumbai, Thane and Pune and seized drugs worth crores. “We feel that opening of doors to <g data-gr-id="24">internet</g> for e-pharmacy in India cannot be compared with the developed countries.