Pharmacies across Mizoram shut in nationwide strike

Pharmacies across Mizoram closed on Wednesday in support of a nationwide strike against online medicine sales, citing concerns over regulatory oversight and impact on traditional businesses.

Pharmacies across Mizoram remained closed on Wednesday as they joined a nationwide strike against online sales of medicines.

The shutdown was called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which raised concerns over the rapid expansion of online medicine sales, alleging that it could adversely impact traditional pharmacy businesses and weaken regulatory oversight of medicines.

Pharmacies operating within government and private hospitals were exempted from the strike and continued to function normally, officials said.

The Mizoram Food and Drugs Administration closely monitored the situation throughout the day to ensure that people did not face difficulties in accessing essential medicines, they said.

Earlier, the Mizoram Chemists and Druggists Association (MCDA) had expressed concern that the unchecked operation of online pharmacies could lead to a rise in the availability and misuse of addictive drugs.

The association alleged that several medicines sold online are counterfeit or produced by unverified manufacturers, while substandard drugs are often detected in the online market.

It also claimed that medicines are frequently delivered by unidentified individuals without adequate monitoring or accountability mechanisms in place.

However, the MCDA clarified that it is not opposed to online pharmacies in principle, but strongly objects to the absence of a clear legal and regulatory framework governing online medicine sales in India.