With the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists having called for a nationwide strike against illegal e-pharmacy operations on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Minister for Health and Family Welfare K.G. Arunraj said that around 5,000 pharmacies will remain open in Tamil Nadu, and the State government had appointed two drug inspectors for each district to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential and life-saving medicines.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat, Dr. Arunraj said that nearly 50,000 pharmacies were operating in Tamil Nadu. In view of the nationwide strike, the State government had taken precautionary measures, he added. Pharmacies attached to Government Medical Colleges, Government Hospitals and Primary Health Centres will continue to function, he said, adding that pharmacies attached to private hospitals and pharmacy chains will also remain open.

Government-supported retail outlets such as Mudhalvar Marundhagam, Tamil Nadu Cooperative Society pharmacies, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras were not participating in the shutdown, and hence, around 5,000 pharmacies will remain open in the State on Wednesday, he said.

To ensure adequate and uninterrupted supply of emergency medicines, the Drugs Control Department had launched district-wise helpline numbers, he said. Two drug inspectors had been designated under each Assistant Director for this purpose, and the helpline numbers had been published on the Drugs Control Department website, he added.

“We have also asked the protesting pharmacy associations to send two representatives from each district to coordinate with the government in case there is any need for essential or life-saving drugs,” he said.

The Minister said the sale of drugs online fell under the purview of the Union government. He acknowledged concerns that duplicate and AI-generated prescriptions were being used online to procure medicines, and said bringing in a standard procedure for online drug sales was the need of the hour. The Centre should hold discussions with the State governments in this regard, he said.

To a question on NEET, Dr. Arunraj said the TVK was firm in its stand that NEET was against the interests of rural students and State autonomy, and added that the State government would urge the Centre to scrap the test.

T.N. chemists’ response

The Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TNCDA) announced a statewide closure of pharmacies on Wednesday, alleging inadequate regulation of online medicine sales, and warning of risks to patient safety.

In a press release, the association said chemists across Tamil Nadu would participate in the nationwide protest demanding stricter regulation of e-pharmacy platforms. The association alleged that prescription medicines were being sold online without sufficient verification, and expressed concern over the availability of antibiotics without consultation with doctors or pharmacists. It said such practices could contribute to antibiotic resistance, self-medication, and dosage-related complications.

The TNCDA also claimed that counterfeit, expired, and substandard medicines, including life-saving drugs, were being sold through certain online platforms. According to the association, over 40,000 chemists in Tamil Nadu, and nearly 12.5 lakh chemists across the country, depend on the pharmaceutical retail trade for livelihood. It appealed to the public to buy medicines in advance, adding that 24-hour pharmacies attached to government hospitals would continue to function for emergencies during the protest.