Chennai, May 19: As a nationwide strike by chemists is set to take place on May 20, Tamil Nadu Health Minister K.G. Arunraj assured on Tuesday that essential medical services and the supply of medicines in the state will not be affected.
Speaking to the media at the Chennai Secretariat, the minister stated that Chief Minister Vijay has issued clear instructions to ensure that no citizen faces inconvenience due to the strike.
Arunraj confirmed, “Pharmacies associated with hospitals will not participate in the strike. Medical shops in private hospitals will also remain open. Approximately 5,000 pharmacies across the state will continue to operate.”
He mentioned that the government has deployed drug inspectors to coordinate arrangements and has engaged in extensive discussions with pharmacy organizations.
In case of emergencies, the health minister advised people to directly contact the designated drug inspector coordinators in their districts.
He noted that Tamil Nadu has around 50,000 medical stores, and only a limited number are expected to close, while most will continue to serve patients as usual.
Arunraj reassured that there will be no issues regarding the availability of emergency medicines.
He also addressed concerns regarding the sale of medicines through online platforms, stating that this is part of the central government’s decision, and the Tamil Nadu government is closely monitoring it. Strict action will be taken against any violations in online drug distribution.
The minister expressed worry about prescriptions generated by artificial intelligence (AI), stating that the government is taking this issue seriously and working on safety measures to prevent misuse.
It is noteworthy that the All India Chemists and Druggists Organization has called for a nationwide shutdown on May 20 in protest against online drug sales policies. The organization claims that over 1.2 million chemists across the country are associated with it.
Concerns raised by the organization include uncontrolled e-pharmacies, heavy discounts on corporate platforms, risks to patient safety, and the sale of antibiotics and habit-forming drugs without regulation, which could lead to increased antimicrobial resistance.