More than 12.4 lakh private medical stores across India remained closed on Wednesday, 20 May, as chemists launched a nationwide strike to protest the unregulated expansion of online pharmacies and the digital sale of medicines. The agitation, led by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), is one of the largest coordinated shutdowns by the pharmacy retail sector in recent years.

What Triggered the Strike

Chemists' associations allege that several e-pharmacy platforms are dispensing medicines without adequate regulatory oversight — with prescriptions often not properly verified and norms governing cold-chain storage and delivery routinely flouted. The protesting groups warn that unchecked growth of online medicine sales heightens the risk of counterfeit drugs, medication misuse, and the unauthorised dispensing of prescription-only medicines.

Pharmacists have specifically flagged the easy availability of narcotics and Schedule H drugs through digital platforms without adequate checks, which they argue is contributing to misuse and broader societal harm.

The Regulatory Disparity Argument

According to pharmacy professionals, traditional chemists operate under strict provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which mandate prescription verification and cap the quantity of medicines that can be dispensed in a single transaction. They contend that e-pharmacies are not held to the same standards, creating an uneven playing field that also compromises patient safety.

Ravi Kumar, associated with the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, emphasised that uniform regulations must apply to both online and offline pharmacies. Prasanna Kumar Singh, President of the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, warned that many medicines require strict temperature-controlled storage — a cold chain that is often compromised when medicines are shipped via courier services. 'Such lapses can reduce the efficacy of medicines and, in some cases, make them harmful,' he said.

Jan Aushadhi Kendras to Remain Open

The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras will continue to operate through the strike, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential medicines. The PMBJK Retailer Association announced on Tuesday that Jan Aushadhi Kendras — particularly those at major hospitals including AIIMS and Patna Medical College and Hospital — will remain functional to minimise inconvenience to patients.

What Happens Next

The strike puts fresh pressure on the Centre to finalise a long-pending regulatory framework for e-pharmacies, a draft of which has been in circulation for several years without being notified. Industry observers note that this is not the first such agitation by AIOCD — the organisation has previously threatened and staged stoppages over the same issue — suggesting that the absence of a clear policy has become untenable for brick-and-mortar pharmacy retailers. How the government responds in the coming days will determine whether the strike remains a one-day disruption or escalates further.