CHENNAI: Nearly 50 per cent of pharmacies were found open on Tuesday, the day the pharmacists association gave a one-day nation-wide strike call against the Centre’s recent move to regularise online pharmacies. However, the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association claimed that over 35,000 shops remained closed across the state and in Chennai only 30 per cent shops were open.
K K Selvan, association general secretary, which is affiliated to the All India Chemists and Druggists Association, said the next course of action will be decided after the All India Committee meeting in six days. “We may continue our strike for three days in our next move,” he said. Pharmacies in hospitals, Amma Pharmacies and cooperative society medical shops remained open.
Meanwhile, its parallel association – The Chemists and Druggists Association, Chennai district president W S Mohan Kumar said, over 3, 000 medical shops remained open. However, pharmacists worked wearing black badges, since we did not want to affect the patients, he added. ens