Protests Erupt in Assam Over Online Medicine Sales
Nationwide Shutdown Sparks Mixed Reactions in Assam
Chemists and Druggists Association of Assam staged a protest in Panbazar, Guwahati.
Guwahati/Jorhat, May 20: A 24-hour nationwide shutdown initiated by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) to protest against the online sale of medicines and alleged unfair pricing by major corporate entities saw varied responses across Assam on Wednesday.
The bandh, which received backing from the Chemists and Druggists Association of Assam (CDAA), an affiliate of the AIOCD, resulted in the closure of several pharmacies throughout the state.
Nonetheless, many pharmacies in districts like Jorhat remained partially operational due to pushback from local business groups.
In Guwahati, CDAA members organized a protest in Panbazar, calling for tighter regulations on e-pharmacy platforms, the retraction of the GSR 220 notification issued on March 26, 2020, during the pandemic, and action against the deep discounting practices allegedly employed by corporate pharmacy chains.
The association expressed concerns that the unregulated online sale of medicines is facilitating the distribution of counterfeit and addictive drugs, posing a significant risk to public health.
Haladhar Deka, secretary of the AIOCD’s Guwahati unit, stated, “The main goal of the strike is to protect the livelihoods of nearly five crore individuals reliant on the medicine trade and shield their families from financial hardship.”
Despite the protest, a limited number of pharmacies remained open for emergencies.
A member of the organization noted, “We have ensured that five to six pharmacies are operational in each district, along with three to four outlets near hospitals, to prevent any inconvenience during the protest.”
The CDAA also accused an “unrecognized organization” of trying to create divisions among medicine traders by opposing the shutdown and allegedly disseminating false information.
The association claimed this group had ties to online pharmacy platforms and corporate entities accused of engaging in predatory pricing.
However, the shutdown did not garner unanimous support among medicine traders in Assam.
On May 16, the Assam Drug Dealers Association (ADDA) declared its non-support for the nationwide bandh, arguing that it would disrupt public access without effectively resolving the underlying issues.
In Jorhat, the bandh's impact was limited, with numerous pharmacies operating as usual.
The Jorhat District Medicine Traders’ Association opposed the shutdown but acknowledged concerns regarding e-pharmacy operations and discount practices.
Association president Sanjib Kumar Bora stated that while they recognized the issues surrounding online medicine platforms and excessive discounting, shutting down pharmacies was not a viable solution.
Bora further mentioned that pharmacies remained open in cities like Kolkata and Bengaluru, where the organization has registered offices, indicating that the bandh was not uniformly observed nationwide.