Bhubaneswar: Medicine shops across Odisha will remain shut for 24 hours on May 20 as part of a nationwide protest against the online sale of medicines and alleged misuse of drugs ordered through digital platforms. The Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association has announced a statewide shutdown from midnight on May 19 to midnight on May 20, during which around 30,000 medicine shops are expected to remain closed across the state.
Impact on Livelihoods and Public Health
Association president P Satyanarayana stated that "illegal" e-pharmacies and heavy discounting by large online platforms have severely impacted the livelihoods of chemists, druggists, shop workers, and others dependent on the trade. He alleged that online pharmacy services are taking advantage of relaxed rules, leading to the sale of medicines without proper physical checks and repeated use of the same prescription. He also warned that AI-created fake prescriptions and easy access to antibiotics and addictive medicines could create major public health concerns, including antimicrobial resistance.
Market Distortion and Unfair Competition
Satyanarayana said that big corporate firms are disturbing the market through aggressive discounting. "Although profit margins on essential medicines are regulated by the government, such pricing practices are creating unequal competition and putting small chemists, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, under severe pressure. This could damage the existing medicine distribution network that many people rely on," he said. He urged that a notification introduced during the Covid-19 period as a temporary arrangement should now be withdrawn. In his view, keeping it in force is diluting the strict provisions of Drug Rule 65 and allowing digital platforms to avoid important regulatory checks.
Demands of the Association
The association has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the temporary Covid-era and e-pharmacy-related notifications. It has also called for a policy that ensures fair competition and prevents deep discounting by corporate players.
Nationwide Participation
According to Satyanarayana, more than 12.4 lakh chemists across India are likely to participate in the protest, which has been called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. The protest aims to highlight the challenges faced by small pharmacy owners and to urge the government to take action against unfair trade practices.
