PTC Web Desk: Medicine supply could face disruption in several parts of the country on May 20 as the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has announced a nationwide strike against online pharmacies and instant medicine delivery platforms.

The organisation, which claims to represent nearly 12.4 lakh chemists, pharmacists and drug distributors across India, says the protest is aimed at pressing the government to tighten regulations on e-pharmacies.

According to the association, many online medicine platforms are operating without proper legal clarity, creating concerns over patient safety and unfair business practices.

Why are chemists protesting?

The AIOCD has demanded the withdrawal of two government notifications, GSR 220(E) and GSR 817(E). The body argues that these provisions have allowed e-pharmacies to continue functioning without a strong regulatory framework.

AIOCD office-bearers say there are serious concerns regarding online platforms allegedly supplying medicines on fake or wrongly verified prescriptions. They say the association is not against online pharmacies, but wants the same strict rules to apply to them as those followed by traditional medical stores.

What is GSR 817(E)?

GSR 817(E) was introduced as a draft notification nearly eight years ago to create rules for online pharmacies in India. It proposed guidelines related to registration, prescription checks and penalties for violations.

However, the draft was never fully implemented or officially withdrawn. Chemists claim this uncertainty has created a “grey area” that allows e-pharmacies to operate without clear accountability.

The association says repeated discussions and reviews over the years have failed to produce a final policy.

What is GSR 220(E)?

GSR 220(E) was brought in during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow registered pharmacies to deliver medicines to people at home during lockdowns and emergency restrictions.

The chemists’ body argues that while the rule was useful during the pandemic, it is now being used by several e-pharmacy companies to continue medicine delivery operations without a dedicated law governing online sales.

The association says the temporary arrangement should now be replaced with a proper regulatory structure.

Concerns over discounts and competition

Apart from safety issues, the association has also raised concerns about pricing practices adopted by some large online pharmacy platforms.

According to AIOCD, deep discounts offered by corporate-backed e-pharmacies are hurting small medical stores that cannot match such pricing.

The body claims that heavy discounting creates unfair competition and affects the survival of neighbourhood chemist shops.

Government response

Representatives of the chemists’ association recently met senior drug regulatory officials and submitted their concerns. According to the organisation, they were assured that the matter is being reviewed. Health ministry officials have also said discussions on the issue are ongoing.

Meanwhile, there are reports that some state pharmacy associations may not participate in the protest. However, the AIOCD has maintained that the strike will be observed across the country.

Will medicine supply be affected?

If the strike sees large participation, medicine availability may be temporarily affected in many cities and towns on May 20.

People who depend on regular medicines for chronic illnesses are advised to keep sufficient stock in advance to avoid inconvenience.