Chemists in northeast shut as part of national strike

Thousands of retail and wholesale medicine shops remained closed across northeastern region Friday in support of the 12-hour all-India strike called by their national organisation against government policies and their impact on traders.

The dawn-to-dusk country wide shutdown was called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists to protest the central government's new drug pricing policy, that according to the organisation, would reduce their trade margin on medicines.

Tripura Chemists and Druggists Association president Ratan Kumar Roy said the strike was total and successful in the entire northeastern region, comprising eight states.

"To meet the emergency needs of the patients, some selective medicine shops remained opened in all the eight states of the region," Roy said.

In Assam, members of the Chemists and Druggists Association have staged sit-ins in various parts of the state in support of their demands.