All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), a representative body of 8 lakh chemists in India, has deferred its day-long nationwide strike scheduled to be held on November 23 following assurance by Union ministry of health and family welfare to take strict steps to rein in operations of online pharmacies until the finalization of framework for e-pharmacy.

At a meeting held with AIOCD on November 16 at Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi, a team of officials  from health ministry led by joint secretary, ministry of health K L Sharma had accepted the trade body's demand for stern action against illegal online pharmacies. Joint secretary, ministry of health also invited B. Suresh, president of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) for the meet but he was not present in the meeting.

Following the senior health official's positive attitude about taking concrete steps to resolve their demand, AIOCD postponed the bandh, said Suresh Gupta, general secretary of AIOCD.

If the government fails to curtail operation of online pharmacy, we will take call on bandh, informed Gupta.

The trade body had on November 7 met the joint secretary of Union health ministry, DCGI, CDSCO and the president of the Pharmacy Council of India and discussed various burning issues including online sale of medicines, shortfall of pharmacists, proposed hike of drug licence fees etc. At the meet, the health ministry directed CDSCO to instruct state drug regulators to take stern against online pharmacy. Apart from this, no concrete decision was taken at the meet. Hence the second round of meet was held between AIOCD and health ministry on November 16. Outcome of the meeting concludes that the stand of the AIOCD stands vindicated, said AIOCD general secretary.

Last year AIOCD held nationwide strike to oppose operation of e-pharmacy. Following this, DCGI directed state drug regulators to take action against online sale of medicines. Bombay High Court also ordered the drug regulatory body to take initiative to prevent online trade of medicines illegally. Due to apathy of drug regulators in reining in growth of online pharmacy, the online sale of drugs has grown into a full fledged business. The government has not yet come up with guidelines to regulate the e-pharmacy.

Upset with the drug regulatory body's indifference to step up action against online pharmacy, AIOCD decided to go on nationwide strike to press for their demand.