They are protesting the Centre’s move to regularise online sale of medicines
New Delhi: An association of brick-and-mortar retail chemists has called on all its 800,000 members nationwide to observe a day-long strike on Friday in protest against the Centre’s move to regularise online sale of medicines.
The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has claimed that online sales would raise the risk of drug abuse and drug interactions and threaten the livelihood of its own members and declared a 24-hour strike starting Thursday midnight.
A senior AIOCD official said all pharmacies attached to nursing homes and hospitals would continue to function in public interest and to cater to emergency requirements.
The Union health ministry had earlier this month notified rules that would allow online pharmacies to register and dispense all medicines, except narcotics and psychotropic drugs, tranquillisers and other drugs classified under the Schedule-X category.
Health officials have said online pharmacies are expected to improve patients’ access to medicines. Specific drugs required by patients may not be available in neighbourhood pharmacies and elderly patients might find it difficult to walk to every nearby retail chemist.
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