Medicine Crisis Hits Punjab & Chandigarh as Chemists Begin 24-Hour Shutdown
People across Punjab and Chandigarh faced difficulties in purchasing medicines on Tuesday as medical store owners observed a 24-hour shutdown in protest against online pharmacy platforms. The strike, called by the Punjab Chemists Association, affected both wholesale and retail medicine markets across the region.Newspapers
Several families visiting Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research for treatment reportedly struggled to obtain medicines and were seen waiting outside closed medical stores.
According to the association, the strike began at midnight on Monday and will continue till midnight on Tuesday. Chemist bodies claim that online medicine delivery companies are violating regulations and causing financial losses to local pharmacy owners.
Punjab has nearly 24,000 licensed medical stores, while Chandigarh has more than 1,000 chemist shops. Due to the shutdown, patients and attendants may face shortages of essential medicines and delays in treatment.
The Chemists Association alleged that several online pharmacy platforms are delivering medicines without proper prescription verification or adequate checks. The association warned that such practices could increase the misuse of addictive drugs among youth.
Association members also argued that while retail medical stores operate under strict regulations, online medicine companies face comparatively weak monitoring. They said the issue is not only about business losses but also about public safety and protecting young people from drug abuse.
The association has urged the Punjab government and the health department to introduce stricter regulations for online pharmacy companies. It also warned that the agitation could intensify in the coming days if their demands are ignored.
