An outlet of Mediplus in Kottara in Mangaluru was among the few medical outlets that functioned on May 20. | Photo Credit: H.S. Manjunath
A majority of medical shops in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts remained closed on Wednesday, following a nationwide bandh called by All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) to urge the government to stop the online sale of medicines.
The shops that remained closed in Mangaluru included the two Ganesh Medicals outlets in Kankanady, and the Radha Medicals outlets near Bunts Hostel Circle and Bendoorwell Circle.
Assistant Drug Controller, Mangaluru, Babu B.N, said the 38 shops of Apollo Pharmacy, 48 of MedPlus, and 130 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadi Kendras in Dakshina Kannada were open. The pharmacies in all hospitals and clinics also functioned normally. “There were no calls, so far, about difficulty in getting medicines from patients,” Mr. Babu said.
The AIOCD has demanded that the government withdraw General Statutory Rules (GSR) 817 (permission granted for online sale of medicines) of August 20, 2018, and General Statutory Rules 220 (sale of drugs to the doorstep allowed during COVID-19) of March 26, 2020.
The South Kanara Chemists and Druggists Association and Udupi District Chemists and Druggists Association have supported the bandh call.