Chemists Call Nationwide Strike Against E-Pharmacies, Warn of Risks to Patient Safety

New Delhi, May 2026 : Chemists across India have announced a nationwide strike on Wednesday to protest the rapid expansion of online pharmacies and the increasing sale of medicines through digital platforms.

The shutdown call, led by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), is expected to significantly impact medicine availability, with over 1.24 million private medical stores likely to remain closed across the country.

The protesting associations have raised serious concerns over what they describe as unregulated operations of several e-pharmacy platforms. They allege that medicines are being sold without proper verification of prescriptions and without adequate compliance with established drug storage and distribution norms.

According to them, the lack of strict oversight in online pharmaceutical sales poses a risk to patient safety, quality control, and accountability in the supply chain.

Chemists’ bodies have also warned that the unchecked growth of digital medicine delivery could lead to the circulation of counterfeit drugs, misuse of medications, and illegal sale of prescription-only medicines without medical supervision.

They further expressed concern over the easy availability of narcotic and Schedule H drugs on online platforms, claiming that insufficient regulatory checks could encourage abuse and create broader public health challenges.

Pharmacists argue that traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies operate under strict provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which mandate prescription validation, regulated dispensing, and controlled storage conditions.

In contrast, they claim that e-pharmacies often bypass these safeguards, creating an uneven regulatory environment and potential safety risks for consumers.

Ravi Kumar, associated with the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, said that both online and offline pharmacies must be governed by uniform rules to ensure patient safety and prevent misuse of medicines.

Prasanna Kumar Singh, President of the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, highlighted another major concern—cold chain maintenance. He said many medicines require strict temperature-controlled storage, which is often compromised during courier-based delivery systems used by e-pharmacies.

He warned that improper storage conditions could reduce drug effectiveness and, in some cases, make medicines unsafe for consumption.

Amid the nationwide strike, officials confirmed that Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras will remain open to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines for patients.

The PMBJK Retailer Association announced on Tuesday that Jan Aushadhi Kendras, including those located in major hospitals such as AIIMS and Patna Medical College and Hospital, will continue functioning to prevent inconvenience to patients.

The strike highlights the growing tension between traditional pharmacy networks and emerging digital healthcare platforms, as India navigates the regulatory challenges of expanding e-pharmacy services while ensuring patient safety and fair market practices.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)