Chemist Strike on May 20 Against E-Pharmacies; Pune FDA Assures Citizens, Sets Up Helplines
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 18th May 2026: In protest against the illegal sale of medicines online and deep discounting by corporate competitors, the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Approximately 1.25 million (12.5 lakh) chemists across the country are expected to participate.
In response, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pune Division has appealed to citizens not to panic and released a list of emergency helplines to assist patients during the shutdown.
Chemists Cite Threat to Livelihood
Addressing a press conference, AIOCD Pune President Sandeep Parakh—accompanied by Secretary Anil Belkar and Treasurer Rohit Karpe—highlighted that the pharmaceutical trade is heavily regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules, 1945. Despite the lack of clear legal provisions for e-pharmacies and an existing stay order from the Delhi High Court, online sales continue to flourish unchecked. The association alleged that the government has largely turned a blind eye to the issue.
The chemists pointed out that the temporary permission granted for the home delivery of medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet been rolled back. Taking advantage of this, e-pharmacies are offering hefty discounts to monopolize the market. The AIOCD warned that this aggressive corporate strategy threatens the survival of small-scale retail chemists and could severely disrupt the rural drug distribution network.
Senior leader Jagannath Shinde emphasized that under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, traditional retailers are bound by fixed profit margins and cannot compete with the 20% to 50% discounts offered by corporate companies. To level the playing field, the AIOCD has demanded that retail chemists be legally authorized to dispense alternative or generic brands for prescribed medicines.
The association stated that despite submitting repeated memorandums to the central government, relevant ministers, and officials, no positive action has been taken, leaving them with no choice but to agitate. They expressed confidence that the bandh will see 100% participation across Maharashtra.
FDA Appeals for Calm, Warns Errant Chemists
Anticipating the fallout of the strike, G. D. Hukare, Joint Commissioner (Drugs) of the FDA Pune Division, issued a press release today. He urged citizens to remain calm, avoid falling prey to rumors, and procure their necessary medications and medical supplies in advance.
While most independent medical stores in the city and district are likely to remain closed, the FDA assured the public that government hospitals, emergency medical services, and select pharmacy chains—including MedPlus, Apollo Pharmacy, Wellness Forever, generic medical stores, and hospital-attached pharmacies—will operate as usual.
The FDA also issued a stern reminder to chemists, noting that drug licenses are granted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, with the primary objective of ensuring the timely availability of medicines to patients. The administration explicitly warned against creating an artificial shortage of life-saving drugs during the strike. Appealing to chemists not to participate in the bandh, the FDA stated that relevant laws and government orders will be strictly enforced against violators.
Emergency Helplines for Citizens
To ensure patients do not face inconvenience during medical emergencies or drug shortages, the Pune FDA has assigned Assistant Commissioners (Drugs) to assist citizens in the Pune district. People can contact the following officials:
R. V. Pingale: 9730085588
S. K. Titar-Datir: 8605000460
A. A. Raskar: 8652583525
S. M. Rathod: 9922304650
