Nearly 5,000 pharmacies will remain open during the nationwide strike

As the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists on Wednesday called for a nationwide strike against illegal e-pharmacy operations, Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister KG Arunraj said around 5,000 pharmacies will remain open in Tamil Nadu and the state government has appointed two drug inspectors for each district to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential and life-saving medicines.

In a speech to the media at the secretariat of Dr. Arunraj said that nearly 50,000 dispensaries are functioning in Tamil Nadu. In view of the nationwide strike, the state government has taken precautionary measures, he added. Pharmacies affiliated to government medical colleges, government hospitals and primary health centers will continue to function, he said, adding that pharmacies affiliated to private hospitals and pharmacy chains will also remain open.

Government-aided retail outlets such as Mudhalvar Marundhagam, Tamil Nadu Cooperative Society pharmacies and Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras did not participate in the shutdown, hence around 5,000 pharmacies will remain open in the state on Wednesday, he said.

To ensure adequate and continuous supply of emergency drugs, the anti-narcotics department has launched helplines, he said. For this purpose, two drug inspectors have been appointed under each deputy director and helpline numbers have been published on the website of the Drug Control Department, he added.

“We have also asked the protesting pharmacy associations to send two representatives from each district to coordinate with the government in case essential or life-saving drugs are needed,” he said.

The minister said that the sale of drugs online came under the purview of the Union government. Acknowledging concerns that duplicate and AI-generated prescriptions were being used to buy drugs online, he said the introduction of a standard procedure for selling drugs online was a must. The Center should hold talks with the state governments in this regard, he said.

When asked about NEET, Dr. Arunraj said that TVK was of the firm view that NEET was against the interests of rural students and state autonomy, adding that the state government would urge the Center to cancel the test.

TN Chemists Answer

The Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TNCDA) on Wednesday announced a nationwide shutdown of pharmacies, alleging insufficient regulation of online sales of medicines and warning of risks to patient safety.

In a press release, the association said Tamil Nadu chemists will participate in a nationwide protest demanding stricter regulation of e-pharmacy platforms. The association claimed that prescription drugs were being sold online without sufficient verification and expressed concern about the availability of antibiotics without consulting doctors or pharmacists. She said such practices could contribute to antibiotic resistance, self-medication and dosing-related complications.

The TNCDA also alleged that counterfeit, expired and substandard drugs, including life-saving drugs, are being sold through certain online platforms. According to the association, more than 40,000 chemists in Tamil Nadu and nearly 12.5 million chemists across the country depend on pharmaceutical retail for their livelihood. She urged the public to buy medicines in advance, adding that 24-hour pharmacies at government hospitals would continue to operate in case of emergencies during the protest.

Published – 20 May 2026 0:34 IST