The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), representing nearly 12.5 lakh medicine retailers and wholesalers across the country, has announced a nationwide strike on May 20, 2026, protesting against what it describes as illegal online medicine sales and unfair competition from corporate-backed e-pharmacy platforms.
The organisation alleges that online pharmacies continue to operate despite the absence of a clear legal framework under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945, and despite an ongoing matter before the Delhi High Court concerning online sale of medicines.
AIOCD President Jagannath S. Shinde said the protest is aimed at protecting small chemists, ensuring patient safety and safeguarding rural medicine supply chains from being weakened by predatory pricing practices.
Recent reports indicate that chemist associations from multiple states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Tripura, have extended support to the bandh, with thousands of pharmacies expected to suspend operations for the day.
The organisation has also planned phased protests leading up to the strike, including awareness campaigns, demonstrations and black-ribbon protests demanding immediate government intervention.
E-Pharmacy Legality Under Scrutiny
Addressing media representatives ahead of the nationwide protest, Jagannath S. Shinde reiterated that the pharmaceutical trade in India is governed by strict laws under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and associated Rules of 1945.
According to him, these laws currently do not contain any provision explicitly permitting online sale or distribution of medicines. He referred to the Central Government’s draft notification under GSR 817(E), issued on August 28, 2018, which proposed guidelines for regulating online pharmacies. However, the draft notification has not yet been enacted into law.
The AIOCD argued that despite the lack of a final legal framework, online medicine platforms continue to operate across the country, creating what it termed an “unregulated and uneven business environment”.
The organisation also pointed to a pending writ petition before the Delhi High Court, where concerns regarding the legality of online medicine sales have been raised. According to the association, the court had earlier granted an interim stay on online medicine sales, yet enforcement on the ground remains inconsistent.
The organisation further criticised the continuation of GSR 220(E), a special notification introduced on March 26, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow home delivery of medicines under emergency conditions. AIOCD leaders claimed that although the pandemic ended years ago, the temporary relaxation has not been withdrawn.
They alleged that online medicine companies are using this provision to aggressively expand operations and gain market share even after emergency conditions ceased to exist.
AIOCD General Secretary Rajiv Singhal stated that large corporate-backed companies are offering discounts ranging between 20% and 50% on medicines, despite regulated trade margins under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013.
Under DPCO norms, wholesalers generally receive margins of 8% to 10%, while retailers receive margins between 16% and 20% depending on the category of medicines. The organisation claimed that online companies are operating at heavy losses and “burning capital” to dominate the market, thereby creating unsustainable competition for small independent pharmacies.
Medicine Safety And Rural Access
Beyond concerns related to business competition, the AIOCD has framed the protest as an issue of public health and medicine safety. Leaders of several state chemist associations alleged that certain online platforms fail to adequately verify prescriptions before selling medicines, including antibiotics and habit-forming drugs.
They warned that easy access to medicines without proper oversight could increase self-medication, misuse of antibiotics and risks associated with counterfeit or inappropriate drug consumption.
Some state-level associations have also expressed concern over the possibility of forged or digitally manipulated prescriptions being used on online platforms. Trade bodies from Gujarat claimed that rapid technological developments, including AI-generated documents, could make prescription verification even more challenging if regulatory systems remain weak. According to them, neighbourhood chemists often play a crucial role in guiding patients, identifying suspicious prescriptions and ensuring safe medicine dispensing practices.
The organisation further argued that the rise of heavily discounted online medicine platforms may severely impact the viability of small chemists, particularly in rural and semi-urban India where local pharmacies often function as the first point of healthcare access.
AIOCD leaders claimed that if independent retailers continue shutting down under financial pressure, medicine availability in remote areas may become dependent on large corporations and centralised delivery systems that may not adequately serve all communities.
Recent reports suggest that over 35,000 chemists in Gujarat alone are expected to participate in the strike, while associations in Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura have also announced support.
The AIOCD has planned a phased protest strategy beginning with awareness drives and press conferences, followed by black-ribbon protests from May 15 and culminating in the nationwide shutdown on May 20. Some leaders have indicated that the agitation could intensify if the government fails to address their demands or initiate consultations with stakeholders.
At the same time, supporters of digital healthcare platforms argue that online medicine delivery has improved accessibility and convenience, particularly for elderly patients, people with chronic illnesses and individuals living in areas with limited mobility.
During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, e-pharmacies became an important source of medicine delivery for many households. Industry observers believe that digital platforms can complement traditional pharmacy networks if supported by robust regulation, transparent pricing practices and strict prescription verification systems.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The debate surrounding online medicine sales highlights the broader challenge of balancing technological innovation with fairness, public health safeguards and livelihood protection. India’s digital healthcare ecosystem has grown rapidly over the past decade, offering convenience and wider access to medicines for millions of consumers. However, the concerns raised by small chemists regarding regulatory ambiguity, predatory pricing and patient safety cannot be dismissed as merely commercial resistance to change.
Neighbourhood pharmacies continue to play an essential role in India’s healthcare structure, especially in rural and underserved regions where they often provide immediate access to medicines, basic medical guidance and community support. At the same time, online healthcare platforms represent a growing reality in a digitally connected India.
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