SHIVAMOGGA: Following a nationwide strike called by the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), medical shops across Shivamogga district remained closed for 24 hours today. The pharmacists staged a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office, protesting against the illegal sale of medicines through online e-pharmacies and quick-commerce apps, and demanded an immediate government ban on online drug distribution.
The protesting chemists outlined three primary concerns driving their agitation. First, they demanded an immediate halt to all online medicine sales. Second, they pointed out that deep discounts offered by corporate medical chains and online networks are severely hurting the businesses of traditional, local pharmacists. Lastly, they warned that these heavy discounts often facilitate the entry of low-quality or spurious drugs into the market, posing a grave risk to public health.
Out of the nearly 1,500 medical shops across Shivamogga district—including around 600 within the city limits—the vast majority participated in the strike. Pharmacists across all taluks held protests and submitted formal memoranda to the authorities. However, to ensure emergencies were managed, generic stores like Jan Aushadhi Kendras, hospital-attached pharmacies, and corporate retail chains like MedPlus remained open, while Apollo Pharmacy counters joined the shutdown.
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