Most retail medical stores across Gujarat remained shut on Wednesday during a one-day bandh called to protest unregulated online pharmacies, chemists' associations said. The strike was announced by the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which represents around 12.4 lakh chemists, pharmacists and distributors, and was supported in the state by the Federation of Gujarat State Chemists and Druggists Associations (FGSCDA).
Widespread Participation Across Gujarat
According to the FGSCDA, the shutdown saw widespread participation in Ahmedabad as well as other parts of Gujarat. The state has around 33,000 medical stores while in Ahmedabad, the number is around 3,000. The association said it had coordinated with local units to keep a limited number of outlets open in different areas so that patients needing urgent medicines were not inconvenienced.
Overwhelming Response
FGSCDA president Jashvant Patel claimed the bandh received an overwhelming response. “Nearly 97% of medical stores in Ahmedabad remained closed, while across Gujarat the closure was about 95%. At the same time, we made sure some shops stayed open area-wise so that emergency medicine needs could still be met,” he said. In Surat city and district, around 7,200 druggists and chemists joined the strike.
Emergency Services Maintained
Despite the shutdown, the association said around 20 medical stores remained open across the city to ensure that people could access medicines in emergency situations. Chemist shops fall under the Essential Services Act and therefore cannot completely suspend services. The association said it had informed the government in advance before observing the symbolic strike.
