Nationwide pharmacy strike today against online medicine delivery platforms

MUMBAI: Across the country, medical shops could face disruptions today as the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has announced a nationwide, one-day closure of pharmacies. In Maharashtra, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said they asked sellers, hospital-attached pharmacies and 24-hour medical stores across the state to ensure the supply of essential medicines.The strike is against unregulated surge in online pharma-delivery platforms. Officials said there is continuous communication maintained with associations as well as district collectors, police administration, civil surgeons, district health officers, as well as private and semi-govt hospitals.A central control room has been set up at FDA headquarters. Citizens can call control room number 9890293253 for assistance. The contact officers for Mumbai's zones are Ajay Mahule for Zone 1 (Colaba-Byculla, 9423610325), Hemant Ade for Zone 2 (Mahalaxmi-Bandra W, 8169393681), P.H. Raut for Zone 3 (8007877754), Punam Salgaonkar for Zone 4 (Kurla E-Mankhurd, 8108129001), Shital Deshmukh for Zone 5 (Bandra E-Mulund, 9404173518), Rakesh Edlawar for Zone 6 (Khar-Andheri, 9619207976), and Aarti Kambli for Zone 7 (Jogeshwari-Dahisar, 9323951496)."We appeal to the public not to believe any rumours. If any difficulty arises regarding the supply of medicines, citizens should contact their district FDA control rooms," officials said.