Gurpreet Singh :- Patients across Punjab faced severe inconvenience on Wednesday as medical stores and chemist shops remained closed in response to a statewide shutdown call by chemist associations protesting against the growing influence of online pharmacy platforms.
The shutdown disrupted access to essential medicines in several cities, forcing patients and their family members to move from one shop to another in search of medicines. In many areas, people were seen waiting outside closed medical stores, only to return disappointed after finding shutters down throughout the day.
Amritsar witnessed a major impact of the strike, particularly in Katra Sher Singh, considered one of the city’s largest wholesale medicine markets, where business activity came to a complete halt. Nearly all medical stores in the city remained closed following the call given by the Amritsar Chemist Association. Association members stated that the shutdown would continue till midnight.
Speaking to the media, Manjeet Singh, general secretary of the Amritsar Chemist Association, said the protest was organised on the directions of the Punjab Chemist Association and the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. He alleged that online pharmacy companies were offering heavy discounts on medicines, severely affecting the livelihood of small chemists and retail store owners.
He further claimed that medicines were being sold online without proper verification mechanisms, increasing the risk of counterfeit drugs entering the market. According to the association, several technical issues in the National Drug Licence portal were also creating operational difficulties for licensed chemists.
Amardeep Singh, vice-president of the association, alleged that fake prescriptions generated through artificial intelligence were being used to procure medicines online, posing a serious threat to public health. He warned that unchecked online sales could lead to the circulation of spurious medicines and misuse of prescription drugs.
The chemist bodies warned that if the government failed to address their concerns, the agitation would be intensified in the coming weeks. A national-level meeting of chemist organisations is expected to be held next month to decide the future course of action.
Meanwhile, the closure of medical stores across several parts of the state left patients, especially those requiring urgent medication, struggling throughout the day.
