2 weeks ago
1
Chemists and druggists crossed Telangana volition articulation a nationwide one-day shutdown connected May 20, 2026, arsenic portion of a countrywide protest called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) against online pharmacies, ‘predatory pricing’ by firm entities, and alleged authorities inaction connected their demands.
The Telangana Chemists and Druggists Association (TTCDA), affiliated to the AIOCD, said much than 12.40 lakh chemists and cause distributors crossed the state are expected to enactment successful the agitation. The associations alleged that unregulated e-pharmacies and heavy discounting practices person enactment astatine hazard the livelihoods of astir 5 crore dependents linked to the pharmaceutical trade.
In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the organisations said repeated representations to the Centre implicit issues affecting the pharmaceutical commercialized had failed to output immoderate factual action, starring to increasing resentment among chemists nationwide.
AI-generated fake prescriptions
The associations raised concerns implicit the alleged misuse of regulatory relaxations by e-pharmacy platforms. They said medicines are being sold without due carnal verification of prescriptions, enabling repeated usage of the aforesaid prescription. They besides claimed that AI-generated fake prescriptions and uncontrolled entree to antibiotics and habit-forming drugs could lend to antimicrobial absorption and airs a nationalist wellness threat.
Deep discounting practices by ample firm entities
They further alleged that ample firm entities were disturbing the pharmaceutical marketplace done heavy discounting contempt government-regulated margins connected indispensable medicines nether NPPA and DPCO norms. “Such practices were creating unfair contention for tiny chemists, particularly successful agrarian and semi-urban areas, and could yet weaken the accessible medicine proviso system,” they said.
The organisations besides demanded the withdrawal of exigency notifications issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, including G.S.R. 220(E), issued connected March 26, 2020, which they said was intended lone arsenic a impermanent measure. They alleged that integer platforms were utilizing the notification to bypass safeguards nether Drug Rule 65.
