Tamil Nadu Health Minister K.G. Arunraj on Tuesday, 19 May assured the public that essential medical services across the state would remain uninterrupted despite a nationwide pharmacy shutdown called for 20 May by chemist unions protesting the Union government's policies on online medicine sales. Speaking at the Secretariat in Chennai, Arunraj said approximately 5,000 pharmacies would remain operational across Tamil Nadu, shielding patients from disruption.

What the Government Has Arranged

The minister confirmed that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has issued direct instructions to ensure no citizen faces hardship during the one-day bandh. Hospital-attached pharmacies — both government and private — will stay open. Drug inspectors have been deployed statewide to coordinate arrangements, and the administration has held extensive talks with pharmacy associations ahead of the shutdown.

Citizens with emergency medical requirements have been directed to contact designated drug inspector coordinators in their respective districts.

Scale of the Shutdown in Tamil Nadu

Of the approximately 50,000 pharmacies operating in Tamil Nadu, only a limited number are expected to close on 20 May, according to the minister. The majority will continue to function normally, a picture that stands in contrast to the potential for wider disruption in other states.

Why Chemists Are Striking

The one-day shutdown has been called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which represents over 12 lakh chemists nationwide. The body's core grievances centre on unregulated e-pharmacies, deep discounting by large corporate platforms, patient safety risks from unsupervised drug access, and the potential rise in antimicrobial resistance due to unchecked online sales of antibiotics and habit-forming drugs.

The trigger is a Union government decision permitting the sale of drugs through online platforms — a move the AIOCD argues bypasses the safeguards built into the traditional pharmacy system. Tamil Nadu has indicated it will monitor developments on e-pharmacy norms closely and take strict action against violations in online medicine distribution.

AI Prescriptions and Broader Concerns

Minister Arunraj also flagged a separate but related concern: the rise of Artificial Intelligence-generated prescriptions. He stated that the government has taken note of the issue and is actively working on safeguards to prevent misuse — an area that regulators nationally are yet to formally address.

On the political front, the minister reiterated Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's firm opposition to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), describing it as an infringement on state rights and pledging to continue pressing the Centre to respect federal principles in medical admissions.

What Happens Next

With the Centre yet to finalise its e-pharmacy regulatory framework, the AIOCD's protest is unlikely to be the last word on the issue. Tamil Nadu's proactive deployment of drug inspectors and its insistence on strict enforcement of distribution norms signal that the state intends to maintain pressure on the Centre. Patients requiring urgent medicines on 20 May are advised to approach government hospitals or the district drug inspector helplines.