KOCHI: Private medical shops in the state will down shutters on May 30 in protest against the Centre’s plan to introduce an e-portal and supply medicines online.
Hospital pharmacies and government-run medical stores will remain open on the day, the office-bearers of the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) told reporters on Wednesday.
“The strike only aims at safeguarding the jobs of lakhs of pharmacists and medical shop assistants across the country. Legalising online purchase of medicine will seriously affect public health in the country. The situation will turn critical owing to low computer literacy and extremely weak regulations of the drug industry,” said AICOD state treasurer O M Abdul Jaleel, district president P V Tomy and district secretary Saiju Abraham.
They said the option to purchase medicines online will help drug addicts who shifted to consuming psychedelic drugs following the regulations imposed on liquor supply.