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All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) members stage a protest during a day-long nationwide strike against the online sale of medicines, in Amritsar, Friday, Sept 28, 2018.(PTI Photo)[/caption]
New Delhi, Sep. 28 (IANS): The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which led the day-long strike of chemists across the country against the online sale of medicines, said they would go on an indefinite strike if their demands are not met.
The strike comes after the government came out with a draft notification on e-pharmacy earlier this month.
"If the government fails to understand and does not consider our appeal positively then AIOCD shall not have any option but to go on a nationwide indefinite agitation against online sale of medicines," said J.S. Shinde, President, AIOCD.
Among the many concerns brought up by the AIOCD are the commercial business loss to its members and that medicines sold online could pose a hazard to public health, a statement from the organisation said.
According to Shinde, the AIOCD made repeated appeals to the Central government and the concerned departments including the State Food and Drug Administrations, citing numerous cases of illegal online sale of medicines.
The e-pharmacy players, on Tuesday said they support the government's draft e-pharmacy policy and would oppose the chemists' nationwide strike.
40,000 chemist shops in Rajasthan stay shut
Nearly 40,000 chemist and wholesale shops in Rajasthan were closed Friday as part of a nation-wide strike called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, a leader of the Rajasthan Chemist Association (RCA) said.
The RCA has extended support to the nation-wide strike, association president RB Puri said.
He, however, claimed that although 40,000 chemist and wholesale shops in the state were closed, medicines were being supplied by "Upbhogkta Bhandars" in emergency conditions.
The shutdown would cause a loss of INR 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore in the state, Puri added.
He said the bandh was called to oppose the government's decision to regularise online pharmacies, and claimed that e-pharmacy poses threat to their businesses and could lead to drug abuse.
