Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh Medicine Supply Disrupted as 10,000 Chemists Protest Against E-Pharmacies
Medicine supplies across Himachal Pradesh were severely affected on Wednesday after nearly 10,000 chemists and druggists shut their shops in protest against the increasing presence of e-pharmacies and online medicine delivery platforms. The statewide strike created inconvenience for thousands of patients, many of whom had to rely on pharmacies operating inside government hospitals for essential medicines.
Medicine supplies across Himachal Pradesh were severely affected on Wednesday after nearly 10,000 chemists and druggists shut their shops in protest against the increasing presence of e-pharmacies and online medicine delivery platforms. The statewide strike created inconvenience for thousands of patients, many of whom had to rely on pharmacies operating inside government hospitals for essential medicines.
The protest was organised by retail and wholesale chemist associations, who claimed that the rapid expansion of online pharmacies is threatening the survival of small and medium medical store owners across the state. According to the protesting groups, repeated appeals to both the state and Central governments have failed to produce any concrete action.
At the centre of the controversy is the GSR 220(E) notification issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on March 26, 2020. The notification had allowed registered pharmacies to deliver medicines directly to consumers during the Covid-19 lockdown. While the move was introduced as an emergency measure during the pandemic, traditional chemists argue that the continued implementation of the provision has significantly benefited large e-pharmacy companies at the cost of local businesses.
In a memorandum submitted to district authorities, the Solan District Chemists and Druggists Alliance alleged that online medicine platforms are attracting customers through aggressive discounts backed by large corporations. Local chemists say such pricing practices have created unfair competition, making it difficult for independent pharmacy owners to survive in the market.
The association also demanded the withdrawal of provisions such as GSR 817, claiming that such regulations further strengthen the online medicine business ecosystem without adequately protecting traditional pharmacies.
Alliance president Vipul Sharma warned that if the current trend continues, thousands of small chemists across Himachal Pradesh could eventually be forced to shut down, leading to instability in the pharmaceutical retail sector.
Apart from business concerns, protesting chemists also raised questions over patient safety and public health. They alleged that several online platforms fail to properly verify prescriptions before delivering medicines. According to the associations, the repeated use of the same prescriptions for dispensing antibiotics and restricted medicines could contribute to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
The strike also exposed the dependency of many people on local pharmacies, especially in smaller towns and semi-urban regions. Long queues were seen outside government-run pharmacies throughout the day as patients struggled to access daily medicines and emergency prescriptions.
Chemist associations have warned that if their demands are ignored, larger protests could follow in the coming weeks, potentially affecting medicine availability across the state on a wider scale.
