Photo credit: ANI NEW DELHI: The proposed nationwide bandh called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) on May 20 over e-pharmacy regulations appeared to lose momentum on Monday after several state-level retail pharmacy associations decided to stay away following assurances from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) that their concerns are under active review.However, AIOCD general secretary Rajiv Singhal said the strike would continue “until unless G.S.R. 220(E) and G.S.R. 817(E) are withdrawn” and demanded corrective measures to stop “deep discounting by corporates through online platforms.”Sources in the national drug regulator said several Retail Pharmacy Associations have declined to participate in the one-day strike, citing larger public interest and the need to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines.According to CDSCO sources, AIOCD representatives recently met officials of the central drug regulator and raised concerns over online sale of medicines and its impact on brick-and-mortar chemists. Officials reportedly assured them that the issues raised by retail pharmacy stakeholders and the regulatory framework governing e-pharmacies are under review.Sources said the regulator also stressed that disruption in pharmacy operations could seriously affect patients dependent on life-saving medicines, chronic therapies and emergency medical supplies.Following the discussions, several state pharmacy bodies reviewed their stand and chose not to support the bandh.Retail Pharmacy Associations from West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Ladakh have submitted written assurances that medicine shops in their regions will remain open and there will be no disruption in supply on May 20, sources said.Officials maintained that patient access to medicines remains paramount and dialogue is the preferred mechanism for addressing sectoral concerns without affecting healthcare services.With several major state bodies opting out, the proposed nationwide strike is expected to have limited impact across much of the country.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuvendu Adhikari Says ED Granted Sanction To Prosecute Sandeep Ghosh In R.G. Kar CaseNorwegian Reporters Question India On Trust And PM Modi’s Media Interactions During Oslo VisitIndia Invites Norway For Big Investment Push In Shipbuilding And Green Energy Sectors’Time Has Come’: Suvendu’s ‘Deportation’ Warning In Bhabanipur, Vows Action Over Kolkata ViolenceDelhi High Court Denies Interim Relief To Vinesh Phogat, Wrestler Barred From Asian Games Trials“India Is Now Naxal-Free”: Home Minister Amit Shah Declares End Of Maoist Insurgency From Bastar’I Am Trapped’: Twisha Sharma’s Last Message Before ‘Dowry Death’ In Bhopal | Headlines@9’Demanded Fortuner Car, Rs 50 Lakh’: Family Claims Noida Woman Was Thrown Off Terrace Over DowryFirst Look Of India’s Bullet Train Unveiled As Mumbai-Ahmedabad Corridor Nears 2027 LaunchBengal Govt Forms Panels To Probe Corruption, Atrocities Against Women During TMC Regime123PhotostoriesNavjot Singh Sidhu’s ₹25 crore luxury mansion in Amritsar is defined by cricket success, ancient trees, and palace-style interiorsWho is Josh Heuston? Inside the rise of ‘Off Campus’ breakout star Justin KohlArt quote of the day by Pablo Picasso: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”From samosas to dokla: 10 common Indian snacks and how many calories they containWhat Gurukul education taught children that modern schools often missPCOS isn’t only a fertility issue anymore: The hidden metabolic risks women must knowHuma Qureshi closed Cannes 2026 with a show-stopping velvet momentThought of the day inspired by Bhagavad Gita: Let go without losing compassion10 baby girl names that mean happy5 dogs that look like wolves123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingTwisha SharmaBrittany mahomesFifa World Cup 2026Who is aj brown wifeKolkata VIP Security CutIPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026India VS Afghanistan Squad AnnouncementDelhi High CourtFuel Price Hike
NEW DELHI: The proposed nationwide bandh called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) on May 20 over e-pharmacy regulations appeared to lose momentum on Monday after several state-level retail pharmacy associations decided to stay away following assurances from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) that their concerns are under active review.However, AIOCD general secretary Rajiv Singhal said the strike would continue “until unless G.S.R. 220(E) and G.S.R. 817(E) are withdrawn” and demanded corrective measures to stop “deep discounting by corporates through online platforms.”Sources in the national drug regulator said several Retail Pharmacy Associations have declined to participate in the one-day strike, citing larger public interest and the need to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines.According to CDSCO sources, AIOCD representatives recently met officials of the central drug regulator and raised concerns over online sale of medicines and its impact on brick-and-mortar chemists. Officials reportedly assured them that the issues raised by retail pharmacy stakeholders and the regulatory framework governing e-pharmacies are under review.Sources said the regulator also stressed that disruption in pharmacy operations could seriously affect patients dependent on life-saving medicines, chronic therapies and emergency medical supplies.Following the discussions, several state pharmacy bodies reviewed their stand and chose not to support the bandh.Retail Pharmacy Associations from West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Ladakh have submitted written assurances that medicine shops in their regions will remain open and there will be no disruption in supply on May 20, sources said.Officials maintained that patient access to medicines remains paramount and dialogue is the preferred mechanism for addressing sectoral concerns without affecting healthcare services.With several major state bodies opting out, the proposed nationwide strike is expected to have limited impact across much of the country.