By Aadyasha News 
New Delhi : Chemists across the country have called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday to protest against online pharmacies and the growing sale of medicines through digital platforms.
Chemists’ associations have alleged that several e-pharmacy platforms are selling medicines without adequate regulatory oversight. They claim that prescriptions are often not properly verified and that norms governing the storage and delivery of medicines are not strictly followed, raising concerns over patient safety and quality control.
The protesting groups have warned that the unchecked expansion of online medicine sales could increase the risk of counterfeit drugs, medication misuse, and the unauthorised sale of prescription medicines.
Pharmacists have flagged issues such as the easy availability of narcotics and Schedule H drugs online without adequate checks, which they say is contributing to misuse and societal harm.
According to pharmacy professionals, traditional chemists operate under strict provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which mandate prescription verification and limit the quantity of medicines dispensed.
In contrast, they claim that e-pharmacies often lack such safeguards.
Ravi Kumar, associated with the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, emphasised that uniform regulations should apply to both online and offline pharmacies to ensure patient safety.