Pharmacies shutdown across AP in support nationwide band

Vijayawada: Chemists and pharmacists across Andhra Pradesh have closed down their pharmacies as part of the one-day nation-wide band call given by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) demanding the withdrawal of the GSR 220(E) notification issued during the Covid-19 period and e-pharmacy related GSR 817(E) notification and introduce “Level Playing Field” policy to stop unfair deep discounting of medicines by corporate firms.In Vijayawada, hundreds of chemists and druggists under the aegis of the NTR District Chemists and Druggists Association shutdown the pharmacies and took out a protest rally at Nakkal Road demanding the regulation of e-pharmacy platforms, curb predatory pricing and withdrawal of emergency notifications.Speaking on the occasion, the association members alleged that Illegal e-pharmacies have emerged as a major public health concern due to several serious risks associated with their operations.

One of the key issues is the repeated use of the same prescription and the acceptance of fake or unverified prescriptions, enabling misuse of medicines. These platforms may provide easy access to antibiotics and habit-forming drugs without proper scrutiny, often without any direct interaction between pharmacists and patients.They further said weak regulatory mechanisms across states further worsen the situation, increasing the risk of counterfeit, substandard, or improperly stored medicines reaching consumers. The unchecked sale of Schedule H and H1 medicines and irrational use of antibiotics are also contributing to the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance, posing a significant challenge to public health and patient safety.