Chemists and druggists across Telangana will join a nationwide one-day shutdown on May 20, 2026, as part of a countrywide protest called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) against online pharmacies, ‘predatory pricing’ by corporate entities, and alleged government inaction on their demands.

The Telangana Chemists and Druggists Association (TTCDA), affiliated to the AIOCD, said more than 12.40 lakh chemists and drug distributors across the country are expected to participate in the agitation. The associations alleged that unregulated e-pharmacies and deep discounting practices have put at risk the livelihoods of nearly 5 crore dependents linked to the pharmaceutical trade.

In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the organisations said repeated representations to the Centre over issues affecting the pharmaceutical trade had failed to yield any concrete action, leading to growing resentment among chemists nationwide.

AI-generated fake prescriptions

The associations raised concerns over the alleged misuse of regulatory relaxations by e-pharmacy platforms. They said medicines are being sold without proper physical verification of prescriptions, enabling repeated use of the same prescription. They also claimed that AI-generated fake prescriptions and uncontrolled access to antibiotics and habit-forming drugs could contribute to antimicrobial resistance and pose a public health threat.

Deep discounting practices by large corporate entities

They further alleged that large corporate entities were disturbing the pharmaceutical market through deep discounting despite government-regulated margins on essential medicines under NPPA and DPCO norms. “Such practices were creating unfair competition for small chemists, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, and could eventually weaken the accessible medicine supply system,” they said.

The organisations also demanded the withdrawal of emergency notifications issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, including G.S.R. 220(E), issued on March 26, 2020, which they said was intended only as a temporary measure. They alleged that digital platforms were using the notification to bypass safeguards under Drug Rule 65.