Varanasi Medicine Shops Join Nationwide Strike

Medical stores across India remained largely closed today following a nationwide call for protest by the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists against the online sale of medicines. The shutdown witnessed a major impact in Varanasi, where key medicine markets and retail pharmacy hubs suspended operations in support of the protest.

In Varanasi, the Saptasagar Medicine Market, medical stores near Kabirchaura Hospital, and pharmacy markets in Lahurabir and Lanka remained shut throughout the day. Only a handful of shops were reportedly open in scattered locations. Office-bearers of the Varanasi Medicine Sellers’ Committee claimed that the bandh received overwhelming support from traders and pharmacists across the city.

Speaking on the issue, committee representative Sanjay Singh said the roots of the controversy date back to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, during the nationwide lockdown, discussions were held regarding how patients confined to their homes could receive medicines safely. At that time, the Drugs Act reportedly lacked provisions for door-to-door medicine delivery.

He stated that the government later amended the law through GSR 220-E, allowing medicines to be supplied directly to consumers’ homes. Pharmacists claim that during the pandemic they personally delivered medicines to patients and played a crucial role in ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services.

However, traders now allege that multinational companies and online platforms are exploiting the same provision by establishing large warehouses and directly selling medicines online, which they say is severely affecting small retail chemists and wholesalers.

Sanjay Singh further claimed that more than 6,000 medicine shops across Varanasi participated in the symbolic protest. He demanded immediate government intervention to regulate or stop unchecked online medicine sales.

Despite the large-scale shutdown, protest organizers clarified that emergency medical services were not affected. Medical stores attached to hospitals, nursing homes, government-run pharmacies, and Amrit outlets continued operations to ensure that emergency medicines remained available for patients.

The protest has once again highlighted the growing tension between traditional pharmacy businesses and rapidly expanding online medicine delivery platforms across India.