Panaji.Sep 17 (TOI): In solidarity with all India bandh called by All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists, 750 chemists and 200 wholesalers in the state will keep their shops closed on October 14.

Chemist and Druggist Association, Goa president Prasad Tamba, said that the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists decided to conduct an all India bandh next month to protest online sale of drugs. The bandh will have the support of 7.5 lakh chemists across the country, Tamba said.

Instances of online sale of drugs has been brought to the notice of the body as the online sale of drugs is not supported by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Tamba said all non-government pharmacies, including hospital pharmacies, will remain closed on October 14. This will be the first time pharmacists in the state will observe a thorough bandh, although a bandh was observed in 2013-14. Tamba said some pharmacies did not participate in the bandh then.

Talking about the situation in Goa, he said it is difficult to check online sales and that some traders even offer online discounts on the purchase of drugs.

He said the government should crack down any kind of online sale of medicines as it raises the risk of misuse of drugs. Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, only registered pharmacists are permitted to sell drugs on production of a valid prescription.

To a question, he said that though in the USA and some western countries online sale of drugs is permitted, he said they have a strict system for monitoring the sale of medicines which is absent in India.

Tamba said the association is also opposed to online sale of drugs as it affects livelihood of 7.5 lakh chemists and their families in the country.