Nationwide Pharmacy Strike Disrupts Retail Medicine Outlets Amid E-Commerce Row

Hyderabad: A countrywide strike by retail pharmacies brought widespread disruption to medicine distribution networks across multiple states on Wednesday, as the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists mobilised over 12.40 lakh pharmacists and drug distributors in a 24-hour shutdown.

The closure saw retail medicine shops shuttered in major urban centres and several states from early morning onwards. The action was triggered by mounting concerns among traditional chemists regarding the operations of online pharmacy platforms and exemptions granted during the pandemic.

Chemists' associations levelled serious allegations against e-pharmacy operators, claiming they dispense antibiotics and habit-forming medications without proper physical prescription verification. The groups further contended that certain digital platforms have deployed artificially-generated counterfeit prescriptions to circumvent regulatory safeguards. According to the chemists, these practices create significant public health risks.

At the heart of the dispute lie two government notifications—G.S.R. 220(E) and G.S.R. 817(E)—introduced during the Covid-19 emergency to facilitate home delivery of pharmaceutical products. The retail pharmacy sector has demanded their immediate revocation, arguing that these exemptions have outlived their pandemic-era purpose.

Pricing war fuels tensions

The conflict also centres on competitive pricing practices. Retail chemists maintain that government regulations cap their profit margins on medicines, yet online companies undercut them substantially, offering discounts between 20 and 50 per cent. This disparity, they argue, represents predatory pricing that threatens the viability of small independent pharmacies.

Regulatory authorities moved to mitigate disruptions to essential healthcare access. The Telangana Drugs Control Administration and counterpart agencies across states issued public notices clarifying that hospital pharmacies, government-run Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and AMRIT outlets would remain functional throughout the strike period.

Large pharmacy corporations, including Apollo and MedPlus, maintained their operational status during the bandh. The Telangana Drugs Control Administration established a dedicated toll-free helpline at 1800 599 6969 to handle emergency medicine requests and complaints, while directing patients to local drug inspectors for urgent requirements.