The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), a representative body of 8 lakh chemists in India, has decided to observe a day-long nationwide strike on November 23 to protest against government apathy towards reining in illegal online pharmacy in the country.

The decision to call bandh was taken by AIOCD at its joint coordination meeting held in Mumbai on October 18. The meeting was attended by 150 representatives of state level chemists and druggists associations affiliated to AIOCD, said Suresh Gupta, AIOCD general secretary.

Online pharmacy is posing a grave threat to patient safety in the country. We have repeatedly held discussions with the government authorities to convey our stand against illegal e-pharmacy causing hazard to public health. Despite several appeals, the government has not initiated steps to resolve online pharmacy issue, Gupta said.

The Bombay High Court also ordered the government to check sale of drugs online. Despite court order, online pharmacy business continues to operate illegally. The existing Drugs & Cosmetics Act (1940) does not allow online portals to sell medicines, he said.

At present, there is no system to check authenticity of prescriptions submitted online. This could lead to misuse and irrational use of psychotropic drugs. Due to lack of integrated foolproof communication system, monitoring of self medication, untempered prescription and repeated filling of prescriptions is not possible in the country. Medicines being a potent chemical substance cannot be equated to any general commodity. Before it reaches consumers, two qualified professionals-- doctor and pharmacist --require to be physically monitored. Online pharmacies could snap the doctor-pharmacist-patient ties thereby depriving patients of pharmacists' advice on dosages of medicines, its side effects etc, said AIOCD general secretary.

The existing brick-and-mortar pharmacies take care of patients' needs like taking back unconsumed drugs. Online pharmacies will not take back leftover medicines causing loss to patients, he opined.

The government should take into account the concerns raised by us as we are a stakeholder. It should clarify the measures to ensure availability of pharmacists at online pharmacies, patient safety and curb misuse of psychotropic drugs while allowing operation of online pharmacies, said Gupta while replying to a query regarding  reports indicating the government intention to allow online pharmacy.

We are not against the government initiative but our concern is patient safety. The government has to take into account our concern before taking a call on online pharmacy, he clarified.

The trade body will further deliberate on future course of action pertaining to online pharmacy in its meeting to be held in Thrissur, Kerala on November 13. The decision to turn day-long strike into an indefinite strike is likely to be taken in the meeting if the government fails to meet their demand.

Last year AIOCD held a day-long bandh to protest against illegal online sale of medicine.