Chemists across India to go on strike

New Delhi, October 12: Over eight lakh chemists across the country will shut their shops for a day on Wednesday to oppose the central government’s alleged move to regularise the sale of medicines through e-pharmacies on the Internet. They also warned of an indefinite strike if the government failed to address the issue within a week. “Internet pharmacy is a new platform for the sale of medicines for the last one year. It is completely illegal and we have even apprised higher authorities that such sale of medicines is a violation of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which talks of proper prescription by doctors,” All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) president J.S. Sinde said at a media briefing here.

A delegation of AIOCD has submitted a memorandum of demands to several authorities, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the health ministry, the Drug Controller General of India and state authorities, he said. (IANS)