100% MEDICINE SHOPS REMAINED CLOSED, PATIENTS WERE HARRIED LOT

100% MEDICINE SHOPS REMAINED CLOSED, PATIENTS WERE HARRIED LOT

21-MAY-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Responding to a call by the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists—and in protest against laws regarding online medicine sales as well as against e-pharmacies—medicine shop owners affiliated with the Chemists and Druggists Association of Bhojpur observed a one-day symbolic strike on Wednesday. During this period, all medicine shops—including those at the sub-divisional headquarters and in surrounding local markets and trading hubs—remained completely closed. Consequently, due to the strike by medicine shops, people in need were forced to wander in search of essential medicines. Demonstrating solidarity by keeping their shops closed in Piro, the medicine shop owners stated that corporate companies are leveraging the aforementioned laws to sell medicines at heavy discounts—both online and through physical outlets established in every city. This has severely impacted the businesses of small-scale medicine shop owners. Furthermore, the risk of counterfeit and illicit medicines has increased. Within the online ecosystem, the misuse of AI to generate fraudulent prescriptions poses a direct threat to patients. On many platforms, proper verification of prescriptions, supervision by pharmacists, and accountability mechanisms remain undefined. Fraudulent and unverified online consultations are misleading patients. The same prescription is frequently being misused to procure medicines repeatedly. The easy online availability of habit-forming drugs is heightening the risk of substance abuse among the youth. Under the online system, medicines have been reduced to mere commercial commodities. This is not merely a trade-related issue; rather, it is a matter directly linked to public health, patient safety, and medical ethics. Rajiv Kumar, President of the Bhojpur Chemists and Druggists Association (Piro Zone), and Vice President Shailendra Kumar Singh urged the government to consider their demands to ensure the protection of the interests of both medicine shop owners and the general public. Present on the occasion were Sanjay Singh, Mohd. Akhlaq Khan, Ramchandra Gupta, Sholendra Kumar, Aftab Alam, Mahtab Alam, Vikas Kumar, Kanak Kishore, Rajan Rai, Harendra Kumar, Manzar Ali, Gauhar Khan, Pramod Tiwari, and Bhola Kumar, among many others.