Some pharmacies will remain open in Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday, though the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has called for a nationwide bandh of medical shops to urge the government to stop the online sale of medicines.

A release from Assistant Drug Controller, Mangaluru, said that 38 shops of Apollo Pharmacy, 48 of MedPlus, and 130 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadi Kendras will remain open. In addition, pharmacies in all hospitals and clinics will function as usual.

Meanwhile, South Kanara Chemists and Druggists Association and Udupi District Chemists and Druggists Association have supported the bandh call. The band will be effective from midnight of May 19 to midnight of May 20.

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.