More than 12.40 lakh chemists and pharmaceutical distributors across India are set to participate in a nationwide shutdown on May 20 after the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) intensified its protest against online medicine platforms, regulatory relaxations introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and deep discounting practices by large corporate-backed e-pharmacies.
The one-day bandh is expected to affect medicine purchases across several states, particularly in smaller towns and semi-urban regions where local pharmacies remain the primary source of healthcare access.
According to the AIOCD, the strike is being organised to draw the Centre’s attention to what it describes as growing “irregularities” in online medicine sales and the financial pressure faced by small chemists due to aggressive pricing strategies adopted by digital pharmacy platforms.
In a joint statement, AIOCD president JS Shinde and general secretary Rajiv Singhal said the protest was “not merely a matter of trade, but of patient safety”, while warning that further nationwide agitations could follow if their demands remain unaddressed.
Reports suggest that emergency medicine services and pharmacies attached to hospitals may remain operational in some areas to reduce inconvenience to patients.
Why Are Chemists Protesting?
The protest is centred around the growing expansion of online pharmacies and what traditional chemists describe as an “uneven regulatory environment”. The AIOCD has specifically objected to the continued implementation of G.S.R. 220(E), a notification introduced by the Union government in March 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The temporary provision had allowed doorstep delivery of medicines in order to ensure uninterrupted access to healthcare when movement restrictions were in place across the country. However, chemist associations argue that the relaxation, introduced during an extraordinary public health emergency, continues to be misused years after the pandemic restrictions ended.
The organisation claims that online medicine platforms are bypassing safeguards that apply to brick-and-mortar pharmacies, including strict verification of prescriptions before dispensing medicines. According to the AIOCD, this has created serious risks related to the sale of antibiotics, psychiatric medicines, sleeping pills and habit-forming drugs.
The body has alleged that prescriptions uploaded on digital platforms can sometimes be reused multiple times without proper checks, increasing the possibility of overconsumption, self-medication and drug misuse.
AIOCD officials have also raised concerns over the emergence of AI-generated or digitally altered prescriptions, warning that the lack of direct pharmacist-patient interaction makes it more difficult to detect fraudulent or unsafe purchases. “This is not just about business losses. It is about protecting public health and ensuring medicines are sold responsibly,” JS Shinde reportedly said while addressing the media ahead of the protest.
Apart from regulatory concerns, pricing practices have emerged as another major reason behind the agitation. The AIOCD has accused large corporate-backed e-pharmacy companies of offering unsustainable discounts that small independent chemists cannot compete with.
According to the organisation, online platforms often provide medicines at discounted rates through venture capital funding and large-scale operations, forcing smaller pharmacies into financial distress. The body estimates that nearly five crore people across India depend directly or indirectly on the pharmaceutical retail trade for their livelihoods.
Impact On Medicine Access
The bandh is expected to have a noticeable impact on routine medicine purchases, especially in non-metro regions where digital healthcare infrastructure remains limited. In many rural and semi-urban areas, neighbourhood pharmacies continue to function not only as medicine suppliers but also as informal first points of medical guidance for families, elderly citizens and low-income communities.
Reports indicate that chemist associations in several states are preparing for large-scale participation in the strike, with black ribbon protests expected to begin from May 15 before the nationwide shutdown on May 20. While organisers have maintained that emergency services will not be deliberately disrupted, concerns remain over possible inconvenience to patients dependent on regular medication for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
At the same time, the proposed strike has also triggered debate within the pharmaceutical community itself. Some regional pharmacy associations in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Assam have reportedly expressed reservations about shutting down medicine shops completely, arguing that any interruption in medicine access could negatively affect vulnerable patients. A section of pharmacists has also pointed out that online medicine delivery became especially useful for elderly patients, people with disabilities and individuals living in remote areas during the pandemic years.
Industry experts believe the issue reflects a broader transformation taking place in India’s healthcare and retail sectors, where digital platforms are rapidly expanding into traditionally localised services. E-pharmacy companies, on the other hand, argue that online medicine delivery improves accessibility, increases price transparency and offers convenience to consumers who may not always be able to visit physical stores. Several platforms also maintain that they operate under existing legal frameworks and verify prescriptions before processing orders.
A Long-Running Regulatory Debate
The conflict between traditional chemists and online pharmacies is not new. Over the past few years, multiple petitions and legal challenges have been filed regarding the regulation of e-pharmacies in India. Chemist associations have repeatedly demanded stricter enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, while calling for separate and clearly defined rules for online medicine sales.
The AIOCD has now demanded the withdrawal of G.S.R. 220(E) and G.S.R. 817(E), alleging that these notifications have enabled online platforms to continue operating under relaxed norms introduced during the pandemic. The organisation has also sought a “level playing field” policy framework to prevent predatory pricing and ensure equal compliance standards for both physical and digital pharmacies.
Despite repeated demands from stakeholders, India still does not have a comprehensive standalone law specifically regulating e-pharmacies. Draft rules for online pharmacies were proposed in 2018, but they have not yet been fully implemented. As a result, debates over prescription verification, interstate medicine sales, data privacy and accountability continue to remain unresolved.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The ongoing standoff between traditional chemists and online pharmacy platforms reflects the larger challenge of balancing technological innovation with public welfare and fair market practices. Affordable medicine delivery and digital healthcare services have undoubtedly improved convenience for many consumers, particularly during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. However, concerns regarding prescription misuse, antibiotic resistance, fake prescriptions and unequal market competition also require serious attention from policymakers.
