12.4 lakh chemists to shut shop May 20 in nationwide strike against e-pharmacy push
AIOCD has called a one-day Bharat Bandh on May 20, pulling 12.4 lakh offline chemists off the counter to protest deep discounting by Tata 1mg, PharmEasy, Apollo Pharmacy and Netmeds, plus regulatory relaxations under G.S.R. 220(E) and 817(E). Semi-urban medicine access at risk.
AIOCD has called a nationwide one-day strike on May 20 involving over 12.4 lakh chemists protesting e-pharmacy expansion, deep discounting by online platforms, and regulatory relaxations under G.S.R. 220(E) and 817(E), threatening medicine availability in semi-urban areas.
Why this matters
AIOCD's planned May 20 shutdown escalates its standoff with e-pharmacies after earlier mobilization of 12 lakh chemists, though subsequent reports show 12 state bodies opting out post-CDSCO review pledge.
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