Chemist strike shuts about 18,000 shops in Chhattisgarh; rallies, protests reported

Online medicine sales cited

Nearly 18,000 medical stores across Chhattisgarh remained closed on Wednesday as chemist and druggist associations staged a statewide strike to protest deep discounts and expansion by online pharmacies, officials and local association leaders said.

Shops shuttered across state

The shutdown affected both wholesale and retail outlets, with prominent commercial hubs in Raipur and Bilaspur reporting shuttered storefronts from early morning. “Since dawn, most medical shops in central Bilaspur were closed,” a local reporter said. In Raipur too, large stretches of the city’s medical market remained shut during business hours.

Rallies and local action

In Sarguja district, members of the district chemist union organised a bike rally that moved through key town squares — Agrasen Chowk, Jai Stambh Chowk, Mahamaya Chowk and Sangam Chowk — before reaching Ghadi Chowk. Protesters gathered outside an Apollo Pharmacy branch, raised slogans and urged the outlet to close for the day; the shop complied, association officials said. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed these demonstrations were peaceful.

Grievances against online firms

Association leaders say the primary grievance is steep discounting and aggressive sales by online medicine companies, which they say undercuts prices and erodes margins for small, neighbourhood pharmacies. Vinay Kripalani, president of the District Chemist and Druggist Association, told reporters the discount-driven model has hit footfall and revenues at brick-and-mortar stores, pushing many small traders into distress.

Support from trade bodies and party wing

The strike drew backing from wider commercial and political groups. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the local chamber of commerce and the Congress party’s medical cell publicly supported the chemists’ action. CAIT national vice-chairman Amar Parwani described the issue as “about preserving the local market ecosystem,” urging policymakers to intervene to protect small businesses.

Administration on alert

With the action unfolding across the state, the Chhattisgarh Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) said it moved to ensure patients do not face medicine shortages. Officials said essential drugs and medical supplies would be supplied through government-run Jan Aushadhi centres, Dhanvantari medical stores, public hospitals and nursing homes. The FDA issued instructions to district authorities to maintain stocks of critical medicines and keep emergency outlets operational.

Appeal to chemists

The FDA also appealed to the chemists’ association to ensure that strike activities do not prevent patients from obtaining necessary medicines. “We request cooperation so that healthcare services are not disrupted and that vulnerable patients receive uninterrupted treatment,” an FDA official said on condition of anonymity.

Public impact and precautions

Local health officials and trade bodies asked citizens not to panic-buy. The administration advised patients on long-term medication to keep a reasonable supply at home but not hoard medicines. “Those dependent on daily drugs should take a precautionary supply; however, excessive stocking can create avoidable shortages,” the FDA notice said.

What happens next

The chemists’ associations said they will continue protests until their demands are addressed, but did not set a formal timeline for further action. They want regulatory steps to check deep discounting by online platforms and measures to level the competitive field for small retailers.

Government and industry sources indicated talks could be convened in coming days to seek a mediated solution. Officials said district-level monitoring will continue and that contingency arrangements are in place to supply life‑saving medicines.

Why it matters

The strike highlights growing tensions between e-commerce players and traditional retail in India’s pharmaceutical sector, and underlines policymakers’ challenge in balancing access to affordable medicines with the livelihood concerns of small traders. For patients, the immediate risk is localized disruption; for the market, the dispute points to a broader debate over regulation of digital pharmacy models and discount practices.