Bengaluru: Close to 20,000 medical shops in the state remained closed on Wednesday in response to a strike called by All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, against the online sale of drugs without any proper checks or prescriptions. In the country nearly 8 lakh medical stores remained closed and many customers were caught unawares. However drugs stores attached to hospitals and nursing homes were open and MedPlus stores too were functioning.
Devidas Prabhu, Vice President, Karnataka Chemists and Druggists Association (KCDA), “If online sale of drugs is allowed to go on in this manner, then over 1.5 crore shopkeepers will be affected. There are about 8 lakh people in this field, who risk losing their jobs.” He said a memorandum to initiate action against such online firms was earlier given to State Drug Controller and Health Minister U.T. Khader.
The Health Minister has stated that if online shops violate any rule, the State Drug Control Department will take action. He clarified that the State government will write to Union government about the concerns raised by drugs and chemists associations.
City pharmacists claim the government needs to stop the sale of online drugs, as no checks are being carried out, as in the case of retail outlets. They claim this needs to be regulated on a priority basis. The organisation also called for greater prosecution of online medical sales that makes it easier to obtain drugs without prescriptions.
