More than 25,000 medical shops across Telangana remained closed on Wednesday, 20 May, as chemists observed a one-day nationwide strike called by the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). The bandh, backed locally by the Hyderabad Chemists and Druggists Association (HCDA), was called in protest against amendments to drug regulations and the unchecked expansion of online pharmacies.

Scale of the Shutdown

In Hyderabad alone, over 12,000 medical shops downed shutters, making it the epicentre of the state-wide disruption. Pharmacies attached to hospitals were exempted from the strike, ensuring that in-patient and emergency care was not directly affected. Corporate medical stores were also advised to remain operational.

What Chemists Are Demanding

The AIOCD and HCDA cited three core grievances: a demand to halt the online sale of medicines, an end to steep discounts offered by large corporate pharmacy chains, and stricter action against spurious drugs in circulation. Chemist bodies argue that unrestricted online pharmacy operations risk medicine misuse, fuel rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and pose serious threats to public health — concerns that have been flagged repeatedly but, they say, remain unaddressed by regulators.

Government Response and Safety Measures

Telangana Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha directed officials to take all necessary steps to ensure that patients requiring life-saving medicines face no hardship during the bandh. The Drug Control Administration (DCA) issued a public advisory emphasising patient safety and uninterrupted access to essential drugs.

DCA Director General Avinash Mohanty said a meeting was held with the AIOCD Telangana chapter, after which it was agreed that pharmacy stores attached to hospitals would remain open. District chapters of the AIOCD were directed to stay in close contact with Drug Inspectors to make medicines available from local stores in emergencies.

Emergency Contacts for the Public

Mohanty urged anyone facing difficulty in accessing essential or emergency medicines on 20 May to immediately contact the local Drugs Inspector or the Assistant Director of the DCA. The DCA Telangana toll-free helpline — 1800 599 6969 — was activated for public assistance. Contact details of all field officers are listed on the DCA Telangana official website under the 'Key Contacts' section.

All field officers of the department were instructed to remain vigilant and respond promptly to medicine-availability complaints. The DCA said it was closely monitoring the situation across the state throughout the day.

Broader Context

The nationwide bandh reflects a deepening fault line between traditional brick-and-mortar chemists and the fast-growing digital pharmacy sector. Online platforms, backed by venture capital and offering discounts of up to 20–25%, have steadily eroded footfall at neighbourhood pharmacies. This is not the first time the AIOCD has called a strike over online pharmacy regulation — previous protests in 2018 and 2022 also centred on the same demands, underscoring the absence of a settled regulatory framework for e-pharmacies in India. With the government yet to finalise comprehensive online pharmacy rules, the standoff is unlikely to be resolved by a single day of protest.