1-day strike to cause losses of Rs 25crore, say city chemists

LUDHIANA: Bringing hassles for patients, chemist shops of the city remained shut on Friday after a call of ‘bandh’ by All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). The district has around 4,500 drug stores. Many chemists said a one-day strike will affect a sale of around Rs 25 crore.

The ban showed its effect throughout the city as chemists pulled down the shutters of their shops. The patients were seen rushing with the medical prescription outside the hospitals.

“I had no idea about the strike before. I have been running from one medical store to another. None of them agree to provide the required medicines. Then finally we came to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital pharmacy for the medicines,” said 60-year-old Darshan Singh, who came from Nawashehar for his regular check-up.

The chemist associations in the city accused the state government for allowing the sale of medicines through internet and operation of e-pharmacies in India. Most of the chemists who spoke to TOI said online pharmacies are a threat to public health and the business of regular pharmacists in the country.

“There are a total of 8.5 lakh members in the chemist associations of all states and union territories in the country,” said , G S Chawla, president of Ludhiana District Chemist Association. “This can cast a huge damage on the entire profession and the tech-savvy youths in the country could misuse the online pharmacies for purchasing drugs that are banned or buy medicines that otherwise require prescriptions.”

Association members made repeated appeals to the government, concerned ministers, departments, state food and drug administration citing numerous cases of illegal online sale of medicines by so called e-pharmacies, and portals on July 30.

A member of AIOCD said, “If government does not consider our appeal, then AIOCD shall not have any option but to go for a nationwide indefinite agitation against online sale of medicines.”