Overview
- The one-day strike, which took place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, led thousands of standalone chemist shops to close in places such as Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Mohali and multiple districts in Bihar.
- Patients seeking routine medicines faced shortages and long waits as hospital pharmacies and government Jan Aushadhi outlets handled most emergency demand.
- The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists said it represents about 12 lakh members and submitted a memorandum to the prime minister demanding the withdrawal of GSR 817(E) and GSR 220(E) and stricter enforcement of prescription rules.
- Participation was uneven across the country with some organised chains staying open and local disputes in towns like Dibrugarh where rival dealer associations clashed and some shopkeepers reported pressure to shut.
- The dispute centers on two COVID‑era notifications that allowed online sale and home delivery of medicines and now risks prompting regulatory or administrative action that would change how e‑pharmacies verify prescriptions and set prices.