600 stores down shutters in nationwide stir over online medicine sales; citizens rush to hospital pharmacies
PANAJI
The 24-hour nationwide strike by pharmacies on Wednesday brought Goa’s medical retail sector to a standstill.
The Chemists and Druggists Association of Goa (CDAG) reported near-total participation, with around 600 private standalone medical stores downing shutters.
Only hospital pharmacies remained open, they said.
The strike, coordinated with the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), was part of a nationwide shutdown involving nearly 12.4 lakh brick-and-mortar pharmacies.
CDAG claimed the protest was “almost 100% successful” in Goa.
For several citizens, however, the closure meant inconvenience, especially those unaware of the strike, leaving them and their care-givers no option but to scramble to pharmacies attached to hospitals for essential medicines.
CDAG meanwhile, said their action was necessary to highlight what they described as a growing threat from online platforms and also “Corporate players” dabbling in the retail pharma space.
Their concerns include the “illegal” sale of medicines through e-pharmacies, aggressive discounting by corporate-backed apps, and instant delivery services that bypass several regulatory safeguards.
A CDAG member warned that the unequal playing field could trigger a rat race which would encourage the entry of ‘spurious’ drugs into the market.
He said, a delegation of the all-India organisation of chemists and druggists had a meeting with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goel, on Monday where he assured to take up their genuine concerns with the Health Ministry and also the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Other CDAG members also flagged the unchecked distribution of habit-forming drugs through online channels, arguing that such practices not only undermine traditional pharmacies but also pose public health risks.
The strike was intended as an eye-opener for authorities to enforce existing laws and curb what they claimed was unfair competition.
CDAG representatives insist that while they are not against technology changing the pharma retail sales space, a level playing field and stricter oversight of online medicine sales is a must.
With the shutdown ending at midnight, pharmacies across Goa are expected to reopen on Thursday, but their problems will find solutions only when the Central government responds with regulatory measures for online sales of medicines and drugs.
