AIOCD Calls for Bandh on September 25 Against Online Sale of Medicines

AIOCD Calls for Bandh on September 25 Against Online Sale of Medicines

Guwahati: With almost everything available on e-commerce platforms, online sale of medicines in India has recently made an explosive entry. With almost every household having an elderly member or children who need a regular supply of medicines, the online market for medicines is booming rapidly.

But the popularity of the online medicine business has not gone well with local druggists and chemists who, of late, seem to face a lot of turbulence in their business.

Recently, the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggist (AIOCD) has called for a strike on September 28 to oppose the online sale of medicines.

AIOCD in an official statement mentioned that the organization is observing one day strike on Friday, September 28 to protest against any move by the government allowing the sale of medicines through the internet or allowing e-pharmacies to operate in India in any form.

Reportedly, AIOCD president JS Shinde highlighted the matter online players have their own strategy of marketing as they make luring offers with discount up to 50 to 70 percent openly. But as per the law, the total trade margin is restricted at 16 percent to retailers and 10 per cent to wholesalers. The AIODC has urged the government to check the restricted percent as the prices of drugs are regulated as well as controlled with Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) that is directly under the government’s jurisdiction.

Speaking on the matter of effects regarding the online sale of medicines, AIOCD President Shinde said, “We have made repeated appeals by memorandums to the government, concerned ministers and departments, state food and drug administration citing “numerous cases of illegal online sale of medicines” by so-called e-pharmacies, and portals and observed twice a one day all India chemists bandh to sensitize the seriousness of this issue, Shinde said.

Shinde further reiterated that in any case if the government fails to understand the gravity of the situation and does not consider the appeal then the organization would initiate massive nationwide protests against the online sale of medicines for an indefinite period of time.

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