Indian Pharmacist Association has announced its decision to stay away from the nationwide pharmacy strike proposed by All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) on May 20, dealing a significant setback to the planned agitation.

The New Delhi-based association issued an urgent appeal to all its state units, district bodies and registered members across the country, directing them not to participate in the bandh and to continue normal pharmacy operations. The organisation stated that retail medicine outlets and pharmaceutical services under its members would remain fully functional during the proposed strike.

The move comes amid growing fragmentation within the pharmaceutical trade sector, with several regional associations across different states also refusing to support the strike call. In Assam, the Assam Drug Dealers Association has withdrawn support, while in Uttar Pradesh, the Chemists and Distributors Federation and the Kanpur Retail Chemist and Distributor Association have confirmed that pharmacies will operate normally. Similarly, the Pharmacy Association of Andhra Pradesh has distanced itself from the protest.

According to the association, concerns over the increasing commercialisation of the pharmacy profession and the growing influence of corporate and online pharmacy entities played a key role in its decision. Abhay Kumar, National President of the association, said the unchecked expansion of non-pharmacy corporate businesses posed a direct challenge to independent pharmacy practice and professional ethics.

The association maintained that medicines should not be treated as ordinary retail commodities and argued that a shutdown would not effectively address the core issues affecting the sector, particularly the rise of unregulated online medicine sales and monopolistic chain pharmacy operations. It further stated that such practices weaken prescription verification systems and compromise patient counselling standards.

Instead of supporting a strike, the association has called for stricter enforcement of Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, along with relevant provisions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. It emphasised that existing laws clearly mandate that only registered pharmacists are legally authorised to dispense, compound or prepare medicines.

The organisation also demanded mandatory physical presence of registered pharmacists at all establishments involved in medicine storage, manufacturing, sale and distribution. It stated that rigorous enforcement of these statutory provisions is essential to protect both patient safety and the professional identity of pharmacists.

In addition to regulatory reforms, the association highlighted the need for better employment opportunities for Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) graduates, noting that despite clinical training, many qualified professionals continue to face limited career opportunities in India’s healthcare system.

Concluding its appeal under the slogan “Save Pharmacy-Save Pharmacists-Save Patient Safety,” the association urged pharmacists across the country to focus on professional development and patient care rather than commercial disruption.