Medicine traders across the country will observe a one-day nationwide strike on May 20 to protest against the alleged unchecked functioning of online pharmacies and unfair pricing practices by large corporate companies.
In Tripura, around 3,500 medicine traders are expected to join the agitation, leading to the closure of medicine shops throughout the state. The announcement was made by the All Tripura Chemists and Druggists Association during a press conference on Sunday in Agartala.
Association leaders said a final decision regarding the operation of emergency medicine counters during the strike would be taken after discussions with the Drug Controller on Monday.
The press conference was attended by AIOCD North East Zone Secretary Sagar Maity, Association President Samar Kumar Bhowmik, General Secretary Biswajit Saha, and several other members of the organization.
The association alleged that the growing presence of illegal e-pharmacies and excessive discount schemes offered by corporate firms have severely affected the livelihoods of nearly 12.4 lakh chemists and medicine distributors across the country, along with around five crore people dependent on the sector.
The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), the apex body representing chemists and druggists nationwide, has called for the shutdown accusing the government of failing to address long-pending concerns of the pharmaceutical trade.
In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the organization stated that despite repeated appeals, no effective measures have been taken to resolve critical issues faced by chemists, resulting in growing resentment within the sector.
Among its major demands, the organization has sought the withdrawal of the COVID-era temporary notification GSR 220(E), cancellation of the e-pharmacy-related notification GSR 817(E), and the introduction of a “level playing field policy” to curb deep discounting practices by corporate companies.
The organization also warned that if the government does not take a clear stand on these demands by May 20, it may intensify the movement through an indefinite nationwide agitation.