May 13: Medicine shops across Odisha are set to remain closed on May 20 as the Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association has announced a statewide shutdown to protest the rising sale of medicines through online platforms.
The association said the rapid growth of online pharmacy services is significantly affecting traditional medical retailers, putting pressure on thousands of small chemists and their employees who depend on the sector for their livelihood.
Representing around 30,000 medicine traders across the state, the association estimated that nearly 2.5 lakh families are directly or indirectly dependent on the pharmacy trade. Members expressed concern that unchecked online sales are disrupting the organised retail ecosystem and weakening local drug stores.
They also flagged regulatory concerns, arguing that existing rules governing the sale of medicines are not being strictly enforced in the online space. According to them, this has created an uneven playing field for brick-and-mortar pharmacies, which continue to operate under strict compliance norms.
The association has urged authorities to take immediate steps to regulate online pharmaceutical sales more effectively, warning that failure to act could lead to stronger and more prolonged protests in the coming days.
The shutdown is expected to temporarily disrupt pharmacy services across the state, highlighting the growing tension between traditional chemists and the expanding digital healthcare marketplace.