The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists launched a one-day nationwide strike on May 20, 2024, to protest online medicine sales [1].
The action represents a significant confrontation between traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacists and the growing e-pharmacy sector. The strike highlights the struggle for regulatory control over how medication is distributed and priced across India.
Pharmacists are protesting the GSR 817 and GSR 220 notifications [2]. The AIOCD said these notifications effectively regularize online pharmacies, allowing them to operate without the same oversight as physical stores [2]. The organization also opposed the deep discounting practiced by online players, which they said creates unfair competition for local chemists [3].
More than 1.24 million private medical stores were expected to remain closed during the strike [4]. General Secretary Rajiv Singhal led the effort to draw government attention to the perceived threats posed by the unregulated digital market [1].
Reports on the strike's effectiveness were varied. The AIOCD said it had total support from its members [5]. However, the shutdown call was largely ignored in West Bengal, where government-run outlets and major pharmacy chains remained operational [6]. Similar mixed responses were reported in New Delhi and other regions as the day progressed [5].
The strike focuses on the legal interpretation of pharmacy licenses. Traditional chemists argue that the current government notifications bypass safety protocols, and the necessity of a physical presence for dispensing medication [2].
“More than 1.24 million private medical stores were expected to remain closed during the strike.”
This strike underscores a systemic tension in India's healthcare infrastructure as it transitions toward digitalization. While the government seeks to modernize medicine delivery via e-pharmacies, the AIOCD's resistance signals a fear that deregulation will compromise patient safety and destroy the livelihoods of millions of small-scale entrepreneurs. The mixed participation suggests a fragmented consensus among pharmacists regarding whether collective industrial action can effectively force a policy reversal on government notifications.
