An umbrella body of druggists and chemists on Monday announced a nationwide strike on October 14 to demand action from the Central Government against online sale of medicine.
The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which has eight lakh member chemists across the country, will observe a bandh this Friday to oppose Central Government’s move to regularise online sale of medicines, AIOCD president JS Shinde said at a Press conference.
“The Government’s move towards regularising the sale of medicines through internet would increase the risk of adverse drug reaction, which will give an opening for the entry of low-quality, mis-branded and spurious products. Entering of low-quality products will have a major setback economically, which is estimated to hit eight lakh chemists and about 80 lakh workers and their families,” he said.
Insisting that the Government should crack down on any online sale of medicines as it raises the risk of misuse of drugs, AIOCD secretary Suresh Gupta said,
"Presently online pharmacy business is going illegally and Government authorities are not taking any action against it."
"Hence, we have no other alternative than to go on strike to protect the health of general public," he said.
The one-day nationwide strike called by AIOCD will also include over 12,000 medicine retailers observing the bandh in Delhi, the association said.
"Coming out in support of the nationwide strike called by the AIOCD to protest online sale of drugs, more than 12,000 chemists and wholesalers in the city (Delhi) will keep their shops closed on October 14 and participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar," Retailers and Distributors Chemists Association president Sandeep Nangia said.
Shinde said the AIOCD had earlier notified the Government authorities, including ministries and departments concerned as well as central drug control office about the online sales of medicines "not following the law in accordance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940" but haven't received any response from them yet on the issue.
"We have met the Drug Controller of India G N Singh and submitted a memorandum to him. The association's representatives have also been to the Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry.
"We have even submitted a memorandum on this issue with the Prime Minister's Office, (Health Minister) J P Nadda and with the Chief Minister of all States. AIOCD has sent a copy of memorandum to all the members of Parliament, both in the lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha but no one has responded," he said.
When told that online sales of medicines is a usual practice in some foreign countries, Shinde said, "Countries like the US, Canada, Britain etc follow this practice but the drug law is also very strict in those countries. Moreover, in these countries insurance companies and governments bear the medical expenses."
The Mashelkar Committee Report on drug law in 2003, when Sushma Swaraj was the Health Minister, had suggested need of "stringent" legislation to check fake and substandard drugs, he added.