Behind the counters of trusted neighbourhood chemists, a quiet storm is brewing. On May 20, pharmacies across Goa and the country will shut their doors for a one-day strike, taking a united stand against the growing presence of unregulated e-pharmacies and aggressive price discounting by corporate chains. Local pharmacists say these practices not only threaten their livelihood but could also put patient safety at risk
PANAJI
A s May 20 approaches, patients may face disruptions in the medicine supply as pharmacies and chemists shut down for a one-day strike. Announced by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), the strike protests the online sale of medications and deep discounting tactics, while highlighting the risk to patient safety from the unregulated sale of medicines by e-pharmacies.
The Chemist and Druggist Association of Goa will also join the nationwide shutdown. Prasad Tamba, Secretary of the state association and owner of Sitara Pharmacy, explains, “The strike has been scheduled to crack down on online pharmacies that have been creating havoc in the market. It is supported by members of the AIOCD; hence, participating pharmacies will be closed on May 20.” He highlighted the association’s core demands: dismantling illegal e-pharmacies that threaten public health, controlling predatory pricing, and withdrawing the emergency notification G.S.R. 220(E).
UNREGULATED ONLINE SALES
One main AIOCD concern is the unregulated sale of scheduled drugs via online platforms. Kedar Jirage, owner of Jeevan Rekha Miramar Chemist and Druggist, emphasises: “It has become easy to fabricate prescriptions and purchase medicines online. This unregulated sale can lead to addictions or adverse health effects in case of changes in metabolic levels, like blood sugar or blood pressure.”
Tamba agrees, stating, “Medications like sleeping pills or medical termination of pregnancy kits require a prescription and must be dispensed by a registered pharmacist. With e-pharmacies, prescriptions could be fake, and no pharmacist is involved.”
THREAT OF PREDATORY PRICING
Another major point is the predatory pricing by e-pharmacies and corporate chains. The pharmaceutical industry is regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, but online pharmacies frequently flout these rules.
“Major corporate chains and e-pharmacies provide discounts on medication of up to 15%, and sometimes 20-25%. As a retail store, we cannot meet our expenses and sustain our businesses within the prescribed margins,” says Jirage.
Raj Vaidya, owner of Hindu Pharmacy, agrees: “Online pharmacies engage in deep discounting tactics with which regular pharmacies like ours find it difficult to compete.” Tamba adds, “Since our markets are regulated, we work within smaller margins. A cap needs to be placed on these margins to ensure a fair market.”
Maria Mendes, a pharmacist in Mapusa, shares how medicine price inflation affects consumers: “Most lifestyle medications are used by senior citizens, and increased pricing strains their savings. Sometimes the expense is so much that patients purchase less than what is prescribed.”
Lucy D’Souza, a pharmacy owner in Bardez, notes that while GST slab reductions have brought down some prices, differences in brand costs still confuse customers. Since online pharmacies bypass these regulations, D’Souza will join the shutdown: “My pharmacy will remain closed in support of the retail pharmacies across India.”
LOOPHOLES AND PATIENT SAFETY
The third demand is withdrawing G.S.R. 220(E), a COVID-19 emergency notification that relaxed norms on medication sales to allow doorstep delivery. Tamba notes, “The G.S.R. 220(E) was a pandemic amendment. Now, online pharmacies, under the cover of G.S.R. 220(E), deliver medications without control and regulation.”
The local Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is strict about maintaining a clean market among registered pharmacies in Goa. However, Tamba explains, “With online pharmacies, most medications come from out of state directly to the customer, making it hard to maintain appropriate checks.”
For Vaidya, the ultimate concern is patient safety: “It is important to change with the times; however, with e-pharmacies, there is a lack of contact between pharmacist and patient. Professional interaction is lost, and no one can provide essential information to a patient.”
Addressing issues of expired medication, Mendes says, “This seems to be true in supermarkets or corporate pharmacies; however, at traditional pharmacies like ours, we must return expired stock to the distributors.” She fully supports the strike to “create awareness about the safety of buying medications from authorised outlets.”
LOOKING FORWARD
Jirage believes the best path forward is to monitor licensing: “It would be better for the government to regulate which pharmacy receives a licence and cut down on the number of chemists. A smaller number of well-regulated pharmacies would be easier to handle, creating business transparency.”
Will this strike affect patients? Tamba assures there will be no hardships: “This strike is being carried out by the AIOCD and supporting members only. Government and district hospital pharmacies will remain open. If any patient struggles to procure urgent medication, we are available via a phone call, and medicines will be dispensed.”
