Med shops across T to be shut tomorrow

Hyderabad: Following a nationwide protest call given by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), the Hyderabad Chemists and Druggists Association (HCDA) announced on Monday that medical shops across Telangana will remain closed on Wednesday, May 20.

The Telangana Chemists and Druggists Association (TTCDA), along with HCDA and AIOCD, said that the shutdown is in protest against recent amendments to drug regulations and the functioning of online pharmacies.

The associations stated that unrestricted operations of online pharmacies and digital medicine platforms could lead to misuse of medicines, rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and serious risks to public health.

They also demanded strict action against online medicine platforms allegedly violating National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy (NPPP) and Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) norms by selling medicines at heavy discounts, which they said was affecting small retail medical shops.

HCDA president Argonda Sridhar Gupta said the protest was aimed at protecting public health and safeguarding the pharmacy sector. “This protest is not against anyone. It is being organised for the protection of public health,” he added.