Several residents complained that local chemists pressured even Apollo and MedPlus outlets to shut down. Drug inspectors stayed on alert to ensure emergency supplies.
Hyderabad:Elderly patients and others dependent on daily medication reached out to the Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) toll‑free helpline during the one‑day strike by medical shops across the State on Wednesday, called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).
Several residents complained that local chemists pressured even Apollo and MedPlus outlets to shut down. Drug inspectors stayed on alert to ensure emergency supplies.
Among those who sought help was a 70‑year‑old man from KPHB Colony who required cardiac medicines. After finding a pharmacy closed, he contacted the helpline and received medicines through the local drug inspector. Calls also came from Habsiguda and Medchal for diabetes and blood pressure drugs. Officials said all emergency requests were promptly addressed.
Most shops remained shut from morning until late afternoon, reopening after 6 pm with banners citing the nationwide strike. Chemists reiterated demands for a ban on online medicine sales, curbs on deep discounts by corporate chains and stricter action against spurious drugs.
Some residents told Deccan Chronicle the bandh had limited impact as Apollo and MedPlus outlets stayed open and many had stocked up in advance.
The Telangana Chemists and Druggists Association and the Drugs Control Officers Welfare Association appealed to the public to avoid online purchases. The DCA deployed four officers to monitor the helpline, confirming all emergency calls were attended to.
Meanwhile, the statewide bandh of pharmacies called by the AIOCD demanding a ban on unregulated online pharmacy sales, was successfully and peacefully observed across the state, according to Telangana Chemists and Druggists Association vice-president Arugonda Sridhar Gupta. He said medical shops across all 33 districts voluntarily participated in the bandh in large numbers.
He stated that association president Kothapalli Srinivas, general secretary Thodupunoori Raju, and treasurer Krishna Kumar personally monitored the bandh across all districts. He also expressed gratitude to all medical shop owners, chemists, and members of the public who cooperated with the bandh.
