May 20 Strike: chemists Protest Online Medicine Sales

All India Organisation of chemists and Druggists has announced a nationwide strike on May 20 to protest against the functioning of e-pharmacies and instant medicine delivery platforms. The association represents nearly 12.4 lakh chemists, pharmacists and drug distributors across India. It said the protest aims to highlight serious gaps in the current regulatory system. The strike may disrupt medicine supply in several parts of the country for a day.

The association has demanded that the government withdraw notifications GSR 220(E) and GSR 817(E). According to the organisation, these rules allow online pharmacies to operate without proper legal accountability. The chemists’ body said authorities have not created a complete framework to regulate prescription verification and medicine delivery. It also argued that the lack of strict rules has created confusion in the sector.

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AIOCD says e-pharmacies must follow the same strict rules as offline chemists

AIOCD general secretary Rajiv Singhal said online pharmacies often process fake or incorrect prescriptions due to weak monitoring systems. He stated that the organisation does not oppose e-pharmacies completely but wants strict regulation similar to physical medical stores. The association believes regulators should monitor online platforms more carefully to ensure patient safety. It also urged the government to close loopholes that permit unchecked operations.

The draft notification GSR 817(E), introduced nearly eight years ago, aimed to establish rules for online pharmacy operations in India. It proposed guidelines for registration, prescription checks and penalties for violations. However, the government neither fully implemented nor formally withdrew the draft. The chemists’ body claimed this uncertainty allowed e-pharmacies to continue operating in a legal grey area for years.

The association also criticised GSR 220(E), which the government introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow doorstep medicine delivery. Chemists argued that companies now use the temporary provision to continue online medicine sales without a dedicated legal structure. The organisation further accused large e-pharmacy companies of offering heavy discounts that small local chemists cannot match. According to the association, such pricing practices are hurting traditional pharmacies and creating unfair competition in the market.

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