Mumbai: The All India Drug Dealers Association (AIOCD) has called for a nationwide drug dealer strike on May 20, 2026, against illegal online drug sales and alleged unfair competition by corporate companies. National President of the organization Jagannath S. Shinde said that this step had to be taken due to continuous neglect by the government.
Demand for ban on online medicine sale
According to AIOCD, the pharmaceutical business is currently governed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945, but there are no clear provisions in the law regarding online drug sales. The organization alleges that the GSR 817 (E) notification issued by the Central Government in 2018 has not yet been made into law, yet online medicine sales continue on a large scale across the country.
The organization claimed that a petition was filed in the Delhi High Court on this issue and the court had also given instructions to ban the sale of medicines online, but the government has not taken any concrete steps so far. AIOCD has demanded the Central Government to immediately repeal GSR 817(E).
‘Crisis on small and traditional medicine sellers’
During the Corona pandemic, temporary exemption was given to home delivery of medicines through GSR 220(E) notification issued on 26 March 2020. The organization says that 5 years have passed since the pandemic ended, but this notification has not been withdrawn yet. Taking advantage of this, online companies are doing medicine business by giving huge discounts, due to which the crisis on small and traditional medicine sellers has deepened.
AIOCD President Jagannath Shinde said that under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, there is a system of limited profits on essential medicines, while online and corporate companies are creating unequal competition in the market by giving discounts ranging from 20 to 50 percent. Due to this, the business of about 12.50 lakh medicine sellers across the country is being affected. He demanded the government to reconsider the profit limit under DPCO and empower drug sellers to provide alternative brands of prescription drugs so that small traders can also compete.
Huge resentment among drug sellers
State Organization Secretary of the organization, Anil Nabandar said that all the members are committed to make the bandh 100 percent successful in Maharashtra. He alleged that despite repeatedly raising demands through democratic means, no positive response was received from the government, due to which there is huge resentment among the drug sellers.
Warning to intensify agitation if demands are not met
AIOCD has warned that if the government does not seriously consider their demands, the agitation will be further intensified. The organization says that the government will be responsible for any inconvenience caused to the public in future.
(Report- Sunil Sharma)
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SK Sharma is a content writer who writes on news, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She has over four years of experience and is known for conveying information in simple and clear language.
