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Chemists and pharmacists across India launched a nationwide strike to protest against online medicine delivery platforms and new regulations related to e-pharmacies.
Several pharmacy associations participated in the protest and raised concerns over the rapid expansion of digital medicine delivery services.
Retail chemists claimed that online pharmacy platforms created unfair competition for traditional medical stores and threatened the livelihood of small pharmacy owners across the country.
Many traders also argued that uncontrolled online medicine sales could increase the risk of misuse of prescription drugs and compromise patient safety.
Several chemist organisations demanded stricter regulations for e-pharmacy companies and urged the government to ensure equal business conditions for offline pharmacies.
Protesters stated that traditional medical stores continued to play a critical role in providing medicines, healthcare advice and emergency support, especially in smaller towns and rural areas.
The strike affected medicine supply in several cities, although emergency medical services and hospital pharmacies largely continued operations to avoid inconvenience for patients.
Hospital pharmacies and essential healthcare services remained operational during the strike.
Chemists criticised heavy discounting by online platforms and demanded stricter rules for prescription checks, medicine storage and home delivery.
Experts said the rapid growth of app-based medicine delivery has transformed India’s pharmaceutical retail market, driven by digital payments and convenience.
Healthcare professionals stressed the need for stronger monitoring to prevent counterfeit medicines and misuse of drugs.
The protest highlighted the continuing debate between traditional pharmacies and expanding digital healthcare platforms, with further discussions expected between the government and industry stakeholders.
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