Nearly 8 lakh chemists in India observe 24-hour shutdown: What are their demands?
Nearly 8 lakh chemists in India are participating in a 24-hour strike to protest against unregulated online pharmacies and deep discounting practices. The strike, organized by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), began on May 20 and is expected to impact medical shops across several states. The AIOCD is demanding regulatory action against online sales of medicines, which they deem illegal and harmful to the industry.
- ▪The strike began on May 20 and will continue until May 21, with emergency services unaffected.
- ▪The AIOCD claims that nearly 7-8 lakh pharmacies are participating in the strike.
- ▪The organization is demanding the cancellation of Notification GSR 817 and action against online pharmacies offering deep discounts.
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Nearly 8 lakh chemists in India observe 24-hour shutdown: What are their demands?The 24-hour-long strike began on May 20 and will continue till May 21, though emergency medicine services will not be impacted during the strike.Updated on: May 20, 2026 6:13 PM ISTEdited by Sana FaziliShare viaCopy link Lakhs of medical shops on Wednesday across the country remained closed after a shutdown call given by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). The medical shop owners are protesting against unregulated practice and deep discounting by online players.The impact of the strike was witnessed majorly in states like Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana ,Karnataka and parts of Gujarat.
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