The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), along with various regional bodies like the Retail Distribution Chemist Alliance (RDCA), has called for a massive nationwide shutdown on May 20, 2026. Amazon Brand - Myx Women's Pure Cotton Embroidered Short Kurti | Tunic | Short Kurta (Available in Plus Sizes) Regular Fit
While the strike directly impacts nearly 8 lakhs to 12.4 lakhs traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies across India, the central reason of the protest shoots from a deep-seated battle between traditional retail models and digital disruption. Traditional chemists claim that this is not just a fight for commercial survival against corporate-backed e-pharmacies, but a major public health concern.
The most instant commercial threat to neighbourhood pharmacies is the aggressive pricing strategy deployed by large online medicine platforms.
Supported by heavy corporate funding and venture capital, e-pharmacies frequently offer unsustainable discounts ranging from 15% to 25% on prescription medicines. Mamata’s ‘bulldozer’ tears: Goons & infiltrators first, Bengal later. Hypocrisy exposed!
Old-style chemists operate under strict profit margins governed by the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). Having high overheads like commercial rent, electricity, and salaries for certified pharmacists, independent medical stores cannot match these deep corporate discounts without selling at a loss.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government introduced relaxed, temporary guidelines to facilitate home delivery of medicines during strict lockdowns. Even after the pandemic has long ended, these digital platforms continue to exploit those relaxed rules to bypass strict physical licensing safeguards mandated under Drug Rule 65 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The AIOCD has intensively emphasized that a medicine is a health responsibility, not a standard e-commerce delivery item. They have flagged critical loopholes in online dispensing. The lack of a direct pharmacist-to-patient checkpoint makes it extremely easy for consumers to over-order or access high-risk, habit-forming drugs, sleeping pills, psychiatric medicines, and heavy antibiotics without legitimate, current mediacal supervision. Targeted justice against terrorists, Israel shows the world how to finish the job, India must learn
Though they have reasonably good reason and they have a fair demand, the government must intervene and save the drug retailers.