Chemists Across India Plan May 20 Strike Over E‑Pharmacy Rules and Delayed GSR Notifications

On Tuesday, a coalition of pharmacy unions representing thousands of chemists across several Indian states declared that they will go on strike on May 20. The move is being framed as a protest against what the unions call “prolonged delays” in granting Good Supply Registry (GSR) notifications, a prerequisite for the legal supply of many essential medicines.

“We have been waiting for months, sometimes years, for the GSR clearances that allow us to stock and dispense critical drugs,” said Rajesh Kumar, a senior member of the All‑India Chemists’ Union (AICU). “Without those approvals, our pharmacies are forced to operate in a grey zone, jeopardising both our livelihood and the health of the community.”

The strike comes at a time when the central government is tightening rules around e‑pharmacies. New guidelines, rolled out earlier this year, require online drug sellers to obtain specific licences and adhere to stringent delivery protocols. While the intent is to curb the sale of prescription medicines without proper oversight, many brick‑and‑mortar chemists argue that the new framework unfairly targets them, especially when their own supply chains remain hampered by pending GSR approvals.

In a statement circulated to the press, the AICU warned that the May 20 walk‑out could affect the availability of over‑the‑counter (OTC) medicines in both urban and rural areas. “We are not asking for special treatment,” the statement read. “We simply want the government to honour its commitment to process GSR notifications swiftly and to involve us in shaping e‑pharmacy regulations that do not marginalise traditional chemists.”

Health officials, meanwhile, acknowledge the concerns but stress the need for a balanced approach. Dr Anita Sharma, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, “The GSR process is under review and we are working to expedite pending applications. At the same time, the e‑pharmacy guidelines are meant to protect patients from counterfeit drugs and ensure that prescriptions are verified.” She added that a dialogue with the chemists’ unions is scheduled for early June.

Patients, especially those in smaller towns who rely heavily on local chemists for daily medicines, could feel the impact if the strike proceeds as planned. Some doctors have already started advising patients to keep a small stock of essential medicines and to use reputable online pharmacies that comply with the new rules.

As the May 20 deadline looms, all eyes are on the upcoming government‑chemist talks. Whether the strike will be called off or go ahead depends largely on how quickly the GSR backlog can be cleared and whether a mutually acceptable framework for e‑pharmacy operations can be reached.