Bhubaneswar, May 13: The Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association has announced a statewide shutdown of medicine shops across Odisha on May 20 in protest against the growing online sale of medicines, alleging that it is severely affecting traditional pharmacy businesses and threatening the livelihood of lakhs of people.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the association strongly opposed online trading of medicines and cosmetics, claiming that such practices are harming local chemists and retail drug stores across the state. The organisation said the increasing popularity of online medicine platforms has resulted in declining business for conventional pharmacies and their employees.
Association General Secretary P. Satyanarayan and Secretary Prashant Mahapatra stated that the Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association represents nearly 30,000 medicine traders in Odisha, supporting around 2.5 lakh families directly and indirectly dependent on the sector.
The association leaders alleged that the sale of drugs and cosmetics through online platforms is not permitted under existing rules and regulations. However, they claimed that despite repeated concerns raised by traders, authorities have failed to take strict action against such operations.
The chemists and druggists warned that if the government does not immediately intervene to regulate or curb online medicine sales, the association would be compelled to intensify its agitation in the coming days.
The proposed statewide shutdown is expected to affect medicine shop operations across Odisha on May 20, with traders urging the government to protect the interests of small and medium pharmacy businesses in the state.
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