Bengaluru, 20 May

A nationwide strike call by AIOCD against e-pharmacies witnessed a mixed response across Karnataka on Wednesday, with several medical shops remaining shut in many districts while a number of pharmacies continued operations.

The shutdown was part of a protest called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) against online pharmacies and alleged violations of regulatory norms under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

In Bengaluru, while many medical shops downed shutters in support of the bandh, several pharmacies continued to serve customers as usual. At Halasuru and some other localities in the City, medical shops were found functioning normally.

A staff at Pooja Medicals in Bengaluru's Halasuru area said they were operating as usual and had not received any such intimation from their respective association about the strike.

However, the strike saw participation in districts such as Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Gadag, Tumakuru, Bagalkot and Shivamogga, where many medical stores remained closed through the day.

In Mysuru, some chemists operated their outlets wearing black bands as a mark of protest.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Chemists and Druggists Association (BBCDA), however, had earlier clarified that it would not participate in the bandh and that medical shops underits fold would remain open in the interest of the public.

"No Bandh will be there on May 20 and shops will continue normal operations. All pharmacy stores will remain open to provide services to the public," it had said in a statement.

However, Karnataka Chemists and Druggists Association (KCDA) President R Raghunatha Reddy claimed that barring a few medical shops, many chemists across the state have participated in the strike. He said the protest had become unavoidable due to repeated violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act by e-pharmacies.

"The sale through online pharmacies is not permissible under the Act. We also have High Court orders, but they are not being followed," Reddy said.

He also alleged that e-pharmacies were offering heavy discounts, disrupting the regulated margin structure of 16 to 20 per cent and adversely affecting small retailers.

Veeranarayana Gowda, the owner of Shri Vinayaka Medicals in Lakkasandra Extension said he had closed his shop at 10.30pm on Tuesday night and would continue participating in the protest through Wednesday. Explaining the reason behind the protest, he said medicines are a controlled commodity and cannot be sold like other products.

"There is a fixed margin allowed for retailers and distributors. But online pharmacies are buying medicines in bulk and selling them at heavy discounts, affecting small medical shops," he said.

He also raised concerns over patient safety and regulation.

"There is no proper control over online sale of medicines. Medicines are being supplied without checking prescriptions. In pharmacies, if there is any error in the prescription, we can identify it and ask customers to consult the doctor again," he added. He further said the response to the strike was mixed because multiple chemists' associations operate in the state.

"There are several associations. Some associations supported the strike while some did not. That is why some medical shops remained open and others joined the protest," he said.