Chemists Strike Across India on September 28; Where to Get Medicines in Mumbai in Case of Emergency
The Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association (MSCDA) have also declared their support to the strike and hence chemist stores across Mumbai will be closed on Friday.
The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) will hold a nationwide strike on Friday, September 28 to protest against the illegal sale of medicines sold by e-pharmacy sites without prescription. What that means for consumers and patients is that chemists stores across India will be closed tomorrow to protest the online sale of medicines and drugs. The Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association (MSCDA) have also declared their support to the strike and hence chemist stores across Mumbai will be closed as well.
But customers can get medicines in case of emergency at select drug stores and centres in Mumbai. Below is the name and address of places where customers or patients can get medicine on prescription:
The Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association (MSCDA) has claimed that most of the prescriptions used to get medicine from online shops are self-generated. Chemists Association of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali have also announced their support for the September 28 bandh. Chemists Strike Across India on September 28; Keep Medicines Handy.
"We are observing one day strike on Friday, September 28, to protest any move by the government allowing sale of medicines through internet or allowing e-pharmacies to operate in India in any form," AIOCD said in a statement.
The Union Health Ministry has come out with draft rules on sale of drugs by e-pharmacies with an aim to regulate online sale of medicines across India and provide patients accessibility to genuine drugs from authentic online portals.
The draft rules require online pharmacies to be registered with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the country's apex drug regulator and central licensing authority and obtain a trade licence.
The supply of any drug shall be made against a cash or credit memo generated through the e-pharmacy portal and such memos shall be maintained by the e-pharmacy registration holder as record, the draft notification said. However, sale of tranquillisers, psychotropic drugs, narcotics and habit forming drugs have been prohibited through these portals. (With Agency Inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2018 04:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).