18,000 Medicine Stores Shut Down in Protest Against Online Sale of Medicines In Odisha

Over 18,000 medicine shops in Odisha remained closed on Wednesday as part of a nationwide strike of chemists against the online sale of medicines.

The medicine stores under the banner of Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association (UCDA) protested the move of the government to regularize the sale of medicines through the internet.

Chief Minister Promotes Alternative System of Medicine At the Global Conference in J&K
Sayeed called for giving space to Unani medicine so that it gets a level-playing field and integrates effectively into the state's public health services.

"We are protesting against the decision of online sale of medicines. It seems the government is not aware of the adverse affects of internet pharmacy. In Odisha, over 18,000 medicine stores are against the decision," said UCDA president Prasanta Mohapatra.

He said they have submitted memoranda at all levels from district collector to the governor.

UCDA secretary Prabir Das said the online sale of medicines is aimed at helping the multinationals at the expense of the entire chain of retailers, wholesalers and distributors.

Chemists To Stage Nationwide Strike Against Online Sale Of Medicines
Nearly 40,000 pharmacies in Tamil Nadu will be shut on October 14, in protest against the government move to recommend online drug retail.

He said that easy availability of habit-forming medicines would pose a big threat particularly to the youngsters while the state would lose revenue following online sale of medicines.

He pointed out that online sale of medicines will lead to unabated misuse of drugs and the government should not allow this to happen.

Goa Chemists to Join Nationwide Strike Against Regularization of Online Medicines Sale
Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, sale of drugs and medicines over the internet was illegal. Prescriptions uploaded online can be prone to fraud.

However, medicine stores located on the premises of hospital campuses were asked not to take part in the strike.

Odisha Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said adequate measures have been taken by the government to have medicines available for patients.

Nobel for Chinese Scientist Has Lessons for Research on Indian Folk Medicine
Use of curcumin has yielded excellent results in terms of preventing parasite recrudescence (patients coming back a few weeks after primary therapy).

Source-Medindia