The battle between traditional chemists and online medicine platforms is getting sharper across India. Chemist and druggist organisations have now openly warned the government that if online sale of medicines is not stopped or properly regulated, they may launch a nationwide indefinite strike in the coming days.

The issue triggered a one-day nationwide strike on May 20, 2026, by chemist associations across several parts of the country. While emergency medicine services near hospitals remained functional in many areas, the protest sent a strong message to authorities.

Chemists say online pharmacies are hurting small medical store owners and, more importantly, raising serious concerns about patient safety.

Dr. Basant Goyal, Zonal Head of the Retail Distribution Chemist Alliance (RDCA), strongly criticised online medicine platforms, calling them a “big crocodile eating smaller fish.”

“Today, nobody knows whether the medicines being sold online are properly regulated, substandard or even fake,” Dr. Goyal said. “The Drugs and Cosmetics Act clearly says medicines should be sold through licensed pharmacies under the supervision of qualified pharmacists. But online companies are delivering medicines directly to homes without proper checks.”

He urged state drug controllers, state health ministers and the Union Health Ministry to either regulate online pharmacies strictly or completely ban them.

“These companies are offering medicines at 30 to 35 percent discount. We also provide discounts of around 20 to 22 percent, but there has to be a limit and proper monitoring,” he said. “Many medicines are being sold without proper prescriptions. This is dangerous.”

Dr. Goyal warned that chemists across the country are now at a “do or die” stage.

“If the government does not act, we will be forced to go for an indefinite strike,” he said.

He also raised concerns about the quality of medicines sold through Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras, claiming that many medicine samples allegedly fail quality tests. He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that medicine quality is not compromised.

“Every medicine strip should have a QR code so patients can check authenticity instantly,” he added.

Meanwhile, Harish Aggarwal, President of the Yamuna Par Medical Store Association, said the organisation fully supports the protest but has asked chemists operating near hospitals to continue services in public interest.

“We support the bandh completely, but we do not want emergency patients to suffer,” Aggarwal said. “Medical stores near hospitals have been requested to remain open, while shops in colonies and markets should stay closed to make the protest successful.”

The protest highlights the growing tension between traditional pharmacy businesses and the rapidly expanding online medicine sector in India. While online platforms promise convenience and heavy discounts to consumers, chemist associations argue that public health and medicine safety cannot be compromised in the race for cheaper prices.