More than 35,000 medical stores across Gujarat will remain closed on May 20 as part of a token protest against the online sale of medicines. The agitation follows a nationwide call given by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which represents nearly 12.5 lakh chemists and drug distributors across India.
Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad on Thursday, Federation of Gujarat State Chemist and Druggist Associations president Jaswant Patel alleged that online medicine sales were continuing by taking advantage of temporary relaxations granted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the Central Government had issued a gazette notification during the pandemic allowing online delivery of medicines to prevent crowding at pharmacies. However, Patel claimed that several large companies were continuing online medicine sales even after the pandemic ended by misusing the same provision.
He added that despite repeated representations to Union ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and JP Nadda, the notification had not been withdrawn.
Patel also expressed concern over the alleged misuse of artificial intelligence and fake prescriptions to procure medicines that can be abused, including alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam and codeine-based syrups.
According to Patel, the association had successfully ordered restricted medicines online using the names of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and President Droupadi Murmu, and records of those transactions had been submitted in court as evidence.
Raising concerns about the impact on small traders, Patel said online pharmacy platforms were offering heavy discounts, making it difficult for small and medium chemists to compete. He claimed that online pharmacies have already captured nearly 7% of the medicine market.