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AIOCD President J.S. Shinde and General Secretary Rajiv Singhal claim platforms like Swiggy have bypassed the outlined safety protocols.
NEW DELHI: The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), representing over 12.40 lakh chemists and distributors nationwide, has urged the Central Government to revoke the COVID-era notification G.S.R. 220 (E).
This regulation, introduced during the pandemic to ensure medicine availability during lockdowns, is allegedly being misused by online platforms, posing potential public health risks.
In the letter addressed to Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the leaders wrote, “The AIOCD once more implores your esteemed office to take swift and decisive action in the best interest of public health and the well-being of our citizens. In doing so, we trust that Notification G.S.R. 220 (E), dated 26th March 2020, will be withdrawn in accordance with the constitutional mandate outlined in Article 47, thereby preventing the need for any future unrest or agitation from our dedicated members.”
Issued under Section 26B of the Drugs Act in March 2020, the notification permitted doorstep delivery of medicines under specific conditions. However, AIOCD President J.S. Shinde and General Secretary Rajiv Singhal claim platforms like Swiggy have bypassed the outlined safety protocols.
AIOCD alleges these platforms sell medicines without valid prescriptions, fueling self-medication, drug abuse, and antimicrobial resistance. They argue the regulation was meant to support licensed chemists during emergencies, not facilitate unregulated sales by online companies.
The organization has called for the withdrawal of the notification, citing the end of the pandemic emergency, and demanded strict enforcement of prescription requirements and safety protocols. They also advocate for a ban on illegal online medicine sales to curb unregulated drug distribution.
AIOCD has warned that failure to act will lead to nationwide protests involving all its members. “Our members will have no option but to agitate against inaction by authority.” “Public health and safety cannot be compromised for corporate convenience,” stressed AIOCD leaders.
