Lakhs of chemists and druggists across the country are literally on warpath against the Central government's recent move to amend Drugs and Cosmetics Act (D&C Act), together with IT Act, 2000 to formulate guidelines to regulate the sale of medicine through internet (e-pharmacy).

To protest the government's move, the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which commands of membership of over 7.5 lakhs chemists and druggists across the country, will observe one-day all India chemist bandh on October 14 this year.

The organisation believes that allowing sale of medicine through internet would not only paralyze current distribution chain of 8 lakh medicine dealers supplying drugs to 125 crore population but also would prove dangerous to the health of common people at large. It must be noted that the irreparable loss to the techno-savvy young population of this country shall be too big against pitty convenience factors of e-pharmacy, cautioned J S Shinde, president, AIOCD.

AIOCD has recently submitted a detailed memorandum to the concerned ministers, DCGI, DTAB and to the Member of Parliaments (MPs), highlighting the e-pharmacy's hazardous effects on the patients. Even though the DCGI and some of state drug controllers are on record that any sale of drugs using internet or web portal is illegal, no actions have been initiated by the administration so far against it.

“We have decided to go on all India chemist bandh on October 14, around 7.5 lakhs member will be participating in it from all over India. One day bandh protest of AIOCD is to sensitize the importance of the subject matter. All retail and wholesaler medicine dealers shall remain closed on October 14,” Shinde said.

He further informed that the Drug Consultant Committee had discussed the issue of e-pharmacy. They have formed a committee under Harshdeep Kamble, Maharashtra FDA commissioner to verify whether they can regulate the internet pharmacy business. But the AIOCD feels even the view of the government to appoint a committee to regularise such act is illegal and AIOCD members strongly opposed that because they feel the health of Indian patients will be in danger.

“We feel the adverse drug reaction of some medicines may spoil the health of new generation due to addiction of certain drugs. We are also concerned about the survival of around 7.5 lakh chemists who are dependent on this business. Their livelihood will be in danger, they will be jobless and increase the unemployment in the country due to the e-pharmacy,” Shinde added.

“We are hopeful that all stakeholders, retailers and wholesalers of medicine would be consulted prior to any draft amendment and unless DTAB evaluates the possible-hazards on public health, central government would not consider any draft proposals of DCC sub-committee,” Shinde further said.