Ranchi: Following a nationwide protest call by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, the Jharkhand Chemists and Druggists Association (JCDA) announced on Tuesday that over one lakh medical shops across Jharkhand will remain closed on Wednesday. The shutdown, lasting 24 hours, is in protest against the sale of medicines through online and e-pharmacy platforms across the country. In Ranchi alone, around 18,000 retail and wholesale medical stores will be closed.
Exemptions and Public Convenience
However, medical stores located within private and government hospital premises in Jharkhand will remain open to ease public inconvenience during the strike. This measure aims to ensure access to essential medicines for patients in need.
Concerns Over Online Pharmacies
JCDA president Umesh Srivastav stated that the unrestricted operations of online pharmacies and digital medicine selling platforms could lead to misuse of medicines, posing serious risks to public health. “The rapidly growing online platforms are affecting the business of medical stores by offering heavy discounts and faster delivery services. Apart from the loss incurred by medical stores, substandard medicines are being provided by e-pharmacies to patients, risking their lives. In protest against these malpractices, medical stores will remain closed on Wednesday,” Srivastav added.
Srivastav also highlighted that many consumers, especially the youth, often procure addictive drugs by uploading fake prescriptions. “The delivery partners of online pharmacies make medicines available to customers without any checking mechanism, which is very worrying,” he noted.
Demand for Closure of E-Pharmacy Services
Lalit Modi, joint secretary of JCDA, said that they demand the immediate closure of e-pharmacy services across the country to safeguard patients’ rights. He added that around 2.5 lakh medical stores in Jharkhand have extended support to the strike call.
The protest underscores the growing tension between traditional chemists and the rapidly expanding online pharmacy sector, with concerns over drug safety, prescription verification, and business impact.
