Chemists' strike to hit biz worth Rs 260 cr

AIOCD calls for 24 hour strike beginning midnight

Pharmacy retail business worth Rs 260 crore is likely to be affected in a 24-hour nationwide strike starting Wednesday. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which claims to be the apex body of 750,000 chemists and druggists, has called for the strike to protest against the online sale of medicines.

Many of the organised retail chains and pharmacies inside hospitals will remain open. In India, medicines worth around Rs 96,000 crore are sold annually.

“The strike is confirmed. Apart from retailers, stockists and wholesalers, too, are supporting the move. In the past, our strikes have seen a 99 per cent success,” claimed J S Shinde, president, AIOCD. He added Union health minister J P Nadda spoke to him on Tuesday, seeking withdrawal of the strike. Shinde said the minister assured him the government would look into the matter.

AIOCD said the online pharmacy is illegal in the context of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Information Technology Act. Shinde claimed medicines such as sleeping pills and Corex are being sold without verifying the authenticity of prescriptions.

The strike might not be effective in some states. It is learnt that in West Bengal, the retailers are not keen to join the strike and have said they will need a nod from the state government. An official at Emami Frank Ross, a pharmacy chain of 125 retail outlets (mostly in West Bengal), said the company is not participating in the strike.

“We are working tomorrow (Wednesday) as we are not a part of AIOCD. Online pharmacy retail is something that is going to happen today or tomorrow,” Surendra Mantena, chief operating officer, MedPlus Health, told Business Standard.

S Ramachandran, president of the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association, said about 40,000 retailers in the state are joining the strike. “We will do picketing at all districts headquarters and submit our memorandum to the government,” he said. Leading e-commerce player Snapdeal had started selling prescription drugs online early this year. However, such drugs can only be sold by licensed pharmacists.

In May, Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration filed a first information report against Snapdeal chief executive and directors for violation.

The health ministry has a sub-committee to look into the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 and examine the practices being followed in developed countries and evaluate the risks and concerns of online sale and its impact on public health.