Mangaluru: In response to the strike call given by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), most medical stores in the city remained closed on Wednesday. However, pharmacies located in hospitals, Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMJKs), MedPlus, and Apollo Pharmacy outlets continued operations.The AIOCD called for the bandh demanding the withdrawal of notifications issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, according to the association, facilitated the misuse of online medicine sales.“Around 12,115 medical shops are registered with the district health department. Of these, 38 Apollo Pharmacy outlets, 48 MedPlus stores, and 130 out of 150 PMJKs remained open today, while the rest were closed. Clinics have also not supported the strike,” said Babu BN, assistant drug controller, Mangaluru Circle.An Apollo Pharmacy cluster executive for Dakshina Kannada said there was no significant increase in customers across their stores, though they had been receiving calls for essential medicines. Srivastav from Apollo Pharmacy, Bantwal, reported a sharp increase in customer footfall compared to normal days. The cluster manager of Apollo Pharmacy for coastal Karnataka, Kodagu, and Hassan said that while urban outlets witnessed normal sales, some suburban and taluk-level branches reported an increase in customers.Meanwhile, a delegation from the South Kanara District Chemists & Druggists Association (SKDC&DA) met Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Darshan HV and submitted a memorandum requesting that their grievances be forwarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through his office.Arun Shetty, president of SKDC&DA, said that not even a single regular medicine outlet is open and that the response to the strike is good.There are 1,100 outlets under the association, and we will open all the outlets on Thursday, he added.In a release, the association opposed the “uncontrolled” online sale of medicines under GSR 817 dated Aug 28, 2018, stating that medicines require strict regulation and responsible dispensing. The association said provisions introduced during COVID-19 were meant to be temporary but have not been withdrawn, allowing online operators to take undue advantage.It also warned that easy access to medicines through online platforms, including the use of fake prescriptions generated through AI, poses a serious risk, especially among youth accessing Schedule H and NDPS drugs by bypassing regulations enforced in physical stores.While commending Dakshina Kannada district police’s efforts in curbing drug misuse, the association questioned how drugs continue to reach young users despite enforcement measures.
