Posted on May 20, 2026
There has been an unprecedented health crisis in India today because chemists and pharmacists across the nation have gone on a strike against the sale of medicines through the Internet. This strike organized by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has raised doubts amongst patients regarding the availability of medicines.
Why Are Chemists Across India Protesting?
The nation-wide strike is mostly geared towards protesting against the following:
- Online sale platforms for medicines
- Heavy discounting through e-pharmacies
- Regulatory loopholes for digital medicine sales
- Home delivery of medicines during the pandemic period
Owners of conventional pharmacies believe that unregulated online medicine sales might pose risks to patient health, promote fake medicines, and adversely affect small medical stores that people depend on day-to-day.
As per media reports, thousands of medicine shops in many states, such as Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, went on strike. It is said that almost 30,000 medicine shops were expected to be closed in Odisha itself.
Will Access to Medicines Be Affected?
The major issue revolving around the strike is the possibility of patients facing difficulties in obtaining their basic medication, which includes:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Heart diseases
- Asthma
- Cancer medication
- Emergency medication
However, the Central Government and the drug control authorities have assured the public that they will not face any difficulty in obtaining their medication. According to the authorities:
- The pharmacies attached to hospitals will continue to operate
- The Jan Aushadhi Kendras will continue to operate
- Emergency and 24-hour pharmacies have been requested to stay open
- State drug controllers will ensure the availability of medicines
The CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) has also instructed state governments to take precautionary measures to prevent shortages.
How Different States Responded
A number of states had announced emergency measures to prevent panic among patients.
Maharashtra
It was appealed to hospital pharmacies and medical stores operating round-the-clock to keep functioning despite the strike. Some districts provided information about helpline numbers.
Tamil Nadu
It was stated by the government that more than 5,000 pharmacies associated with hospitals would remain operational for a continuous supply of drugs. Help desks and inspection teams were also set up.
Karnataka
Some reports revealed that some pharmacies in cities like Mangaluru were working in spite of the strike to meet the requirements of emergency health care.
The Bigger Debate: Offline Pharmacies vs E-Pharmacies
Again, this strike has brought to light the increasing conflict between the traditional medical stores and the fast-growing online pharmacies.
Advocates of e-pharmacy claim that:
- It increases convenience
- Benefits the elderly and rural population
- Provides cheaper prices
- Increases access to medicines
However, offline chemists feel that there should be tighter regulation for the verification of prescriptions, safety of the patient, and healthy competition.
This represents a larger trend in the country, where changes are occurring in both healthcare and retail.
What Should Patients Do During the Strike?
- Healthcare professionals suggest patients should:
- Not indulge in panic buying of medicines
- Look out for hospital pharmacies around them
- Visit Jan Aushadhi Kendras in case their local stores are closed
- Be prepared with emergency prescription medications
- Contact the health helpline services at their localities in case of an emergency requirement of medicines
Patients needing critical medicines must be particularly careful while making such arrangements.
Final Thoughts
The nationwide chemists’ strike is not only an outcry against online pharmacies but a wider fight for the future of medicine retailing in the country. While the government has guaranteed uninterrupted supply of medicines, it has become clear how dependent millions of Indians are on the network of local pharmacies.
As the country navigates through the process of developing its digital healthcare industry, tighter regulation and cooperation may prove to be a must in order to prevent such events from happening in the future.
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