Chemists all across the country have shut their stores for one day today to protest government's plan to allow sale of medicines through Internet. <br/><br/>The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, AIOCD has said online sale of medicines is against the provision of Drugs and Cosmetics Act. <br/><br/>The law says medicines can be sold only on the prescription of doctors. A delegation of AIOCD had earlier submitted a memorandum of demands to Prime Minister's Office, the health ministry, and Drug Controller General of India and state authorities.<br/><br/>On Tuesday, Health Ministry had spoken to the leaders of the agitating chemists and said government has not taken any decision to allow online sale of medicines. <br/><br/>He had told them that all stakeholders will be consulted before taking any decision in this regard.

The All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) has called a nationwide chemists' strike today demanding action from the Centre against "illegal" online sale of medicines.<br/><br/>AIOCD President J S Shinde said that they have decided to go for nationwide strike today to protect health of general public as well as interest of our 8.5 lakh chemists in 30 states.<br/><br/>He further added that they may resort to indefinite strike, if the Centre fails to resolve the issue immediately.<br/><br/>Over 55,000 chemists from Maharashtra participate in the strike and at the protest to be held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai today. <br/><br/>The AIOCD President said they strongly oppose the government's move to regularise sale of medicines through internet that is 'e-Pharmacy' in larger public interest. <br/><br/>However, Shinde claimed it was illegal to sell medicines on internet under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.<br/><br/>He further claimed the internet online pharmacies are supplying all products including I-pill, anti-depression, codeine cough syrups without confirming the authenticity of prescription and patients.<br/><br/>An online pharmacy is an internet-based vendor of prescription drugs.<br/><br/>Recently, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has raided 27 online pharmacies located in Mumbai, Thane and Pune and seized drugs worth crores.