The pharmacy sector across India is set to witness a major shutdown on Wednesday, May 20, in protest against the Central government’s new regulations permitting online sale of medicines through e-pharmacies. The nationwide bandh has been called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), with pharmacy associations from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh extending full support to the agitation.
According to trader associations, more than 12.40 lakh medical shops and pharmaceutical distribution centres across the country are expected to suspend operations as part of the protest. In Telangana alone, over 30,000 pharmacies are likely to remain closed, including more than 16,000 medical shops within Hyderabad. The large-scale closure has raised concerns among patients and healthcare consumers.
Pharmacy owners have alleged that online medicine platforms are severely affecting the survival of small and medium medical businesses by offering heavy discounts and attracting customers away from traditional stores. They also claimed that the lack of strict monitoring and regulatory control over online pharmacies has increased the risk of counterfeit medicines entering the market, posing a serious threat to public health.
The protesting associations further accused authorities of imposing strict inspections and regulatory pressure on offline pharmacy owners while allowing online platforms to function without adequate restrictions. The AIOCD stated that the current policy framework is creating an uneven business environment and threatening the livelihood of lakhs of small pharmacy operators across the country.
Despite the bandh, certain essential medical services have been exempted to avoid inconvenience to patients. Amrit pharmacies operating in government hospitals, medical stores located inside major hospitals, and 24/7 emergency pharmacies will continue functioning normally. The associations have advised patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and kidney diseases to purchase essential medicines in advance. Trader bodies also warned that if the Central government fails to withdraw the e-pharmacy regulations, they may intensify the protest with an indefinite nationwide shutdown in the future.