Nationwide Bandh Against Online Drug Sales Gets 100% Response in Pune, Claim Chemists
Pune, 20th May 2026: Chemists and drug retailers across Pune observed a complete shutdown on Tuesday in response to the nationwide bandh called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) against illegal online sale of medicines and what they termed as unfair competition from corporate companies.
Office-bearers of the association claimed that nearly 12.5 lakh chemists and drug retailers from across the country participated in the protest. In Pune, a protest march was taken out from Power House in Rasta Peth to the District Collector’s office.
The march was led by Pune unit president Sandeep Parkh and attended by secretary Anil Belkar, treasurer Rohit Karpe and several office-bearers and members of the association.
Speaking to reporters, Parkh said the pharmaceutical business in India is regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945. However, despite the absence of a clear legal framework governing online sale of medicines, large-scale online medicine distribution continues across the country.
He pointed out that a petition against online medicine sales is pending before the Delhi High Court and that the court had earlier stayed online sale of medicines. “Despite this, the government has failed to take concrete action,” he alleged.
The association said the government had temporarily permitted home delivery of medicines during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, even after the pandemic ended, the relaxation was not withdrawn, allowing online companies to continue expanding aggressively through heavy discounts.
According to the association, large online and corporate firms are offering discounts ranging from 20 to 50 per cent, making it difficult for traditional medical shop owners to survive in the market. Members also expressed concern that the trend could adversely affect medicine supply systems in rural areas where small chemists play a critical role.
The association further demanded that chemists should be given the right to provide alternative brands of medicines prescribed by doctors.
AIOCD office-bearers said repeated representations had earlier been submitted to the central government, ministers and concerned authorities, but no positive response was received, forcing them to intensify their agitation.
Medical shops remained shut in several parts of Maharashtra and other states as part of the bandh. The association claimed the strike received an overwhelming response and warned of a more intensified agitation if the government failed to take an immediate policy decision on the issue.
