A poster announcing the nationwide strike on May 20 by chemists and druggists outside a medical store in Hyderabad on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR

Over 12 lakh chemists across the country will down shutters for a day, starting midnight Tuesday, representatives with an apex chemist body confirmed, pointing to concerns of “deep discounts” extended by online pharmacies, among other things.

Members of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) will hold protests across the country in their regions and convey their grievances to the respective authorities, Aiocd President JS Shinde  told businessline. In Mumbai, for example, 1000 chemists will protest at the Azad Maidan (at the heart of the financial capital), and submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, he added.

The chemist body confirmed the 24-hour shutdown, even as reports suggested that some pharmacy associations were not participating in the protest.

A Health Ministry source said, that hospital pharmacy stores, the Government-run Jan Aushadhi, and Amrit Pharmacy stores would be open on Wednesday.

Predatory Pricing

The Aiocd had called for a day-long strike about a week ago, against what it called “predatory pricing”, and submitted their concerns to the Prime Minister, saying that they had made repeated requests, but no concrete action had been taken on the issues affecting the pharmaceutical trade.

“Large corporate entities are disturbing market balance through deep discounting. While margins on essential medicines are fixed by the Government (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority/Drugs Prices Control Order), these entities are creating unfair competition. This is threatening the survival of small chemists in rural and semi-urban areas, which will ultimately destroy the accessible medicine supply system,” the Aiocd said.

Need for Regulation

They also called for the withdrawal of two Government notifications - GSR 220(E) and GSR 817(E) – the first one had to do with facilitating home deliveries during Covid; and the second sought to bring e-pharmacies withing the regulatory framework, Shinde said.

The digital regulatory framework must be in place before companies are allowed to operate, he said, adding that presently e-commerce companies were taking advantage of these notifications and delivering critical medicines – that are governed by legislation involving its storage and distribution.

Aiocd general secretary Rajiv Singhal, alleged that people were able to buy any type of medicine on prescriptions generated in any part of the country, making it difficult to trace back to legitimate medical doctors. On the inconvenience being caused to people looking to buy medicines tomorrow, he said, local chemists are taking measures to address this.  

Published on May 19, 2026