Online business is catching up worldwide and India is one of the biggest markets at present for the online companies. The central government’s recent decision to allow the sale of medicine online has prompted the All India Pharmacy owners to go on strike nationwide Bandh and according to the available sources, more than 1000 pharmacies in Goa will take part in this nationwide Bandh which will start on 13th October at Midnight and will come to an end on 14th October midnight.
According to the sources, Chemist and Druggist Association of Goa (CDAG) president Prasad Tamba has called for the strike in Goa and informed the media that all the pharmacies in Goa will remain closed on 14th October to protest against the government’s decision to allow the sale of medicines online. Tamba has also said that they have given the advance notice of the Bandh to the state government and appealed all the people to make the advance purchase of the necessary medicines prior to the strike.
The president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Prasad Netravalkar has said that the sale of an online drug has no benefits for the public and it may affect adversely to everyone. The misuse and abuse of drugs will increase as the patient will use the single prescription repeatedly to do the purchase online and same will cause the adverse effect on the health of the patient. It is the serious issue and it must be looked into.
This strike which is called by the All India Organization of Chemist and Druggist (AOICD) has a support more than 8 lakh chemist and druggist nationwide. The local representative claimed that the government’s move to protect the interest of a handful of players will jeopardize the interest of 8 lakh pharmacy businesses and 80 lakh workers who are dependent on it.
According to Tamba, the illegal business of online pharmacy business is going on openly and the government is not doing anything about it. “They have not taken any action against the illegal online pharmacies despite several complaints made by the association,” he said. According to him, the online pharmacies are presently supplying all type goods such as Contraceptives, Anti-depressant drugs, Cough Syrup with Codeine and Sexual stimulants with the prescriptions.
The forthcoming strike on 14th October has following memorandum which they want to bring to the notice of the government.
- The sale of online medicine is illegal under the provision of Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 under rules 1945.
- There is no authenticity of the prescription sent by the patient to online pharmacies.
- This will only increase the risk of undesirable reaction on the patient.
- This will also increase the entry of unbranded and spurious quality drug suppliers online.
- This may root the drug addiction since it will be available on the fingertips.
- This will impact on the availability of drugs in villages due to non-connectivity.
- There will be breaking of Doctor-Patient ties.
- The most adverse effect that will be faced by the pharmacies is the business loss to 8 lakh pharmacist and 80 lakh families dependent on this business.
There are many points which are put across by the pharmacist union are correct to certain extent but it surely does not provide any threat to their business since people are educated and they know the drawbacks of purchase of medicine online. The sale of drugs online will not lead to the closure of pharmacy business as 100% people do not purchase online. The fear of losing business is correct, but one cannot stop the competition from coming to their doors. The strike is only threat that pharmacist could use to pressurize the government at the moment just like even doctors sometimes use the similar pressure tactics. But is it correct? This will only create the inconvenience to the patient? and you never know this may also increase the business of online pharmacies? Please do all your advance purchases to avoid any emergency situation and also do not forget to leave your valuable comments and suggestion on this issue.
Source: Various Sources
Edited by Goa Prism News Desk
