By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in AGARTALA | May 10, 2026
AGARTALA: In a move that could significantly impact the state’s healthcare accessibility, the All Tripura Chemists and Druggists Association (ATCDA) announced today that all pharmacies across Tripura will remain closed on May 20. The statewide shutdown is part of a massive national strike organized by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) to protest against the “unregulated operations” and “predatory pricing” of online pharmacies.
The decision was formally announced during a press conference held this Sunday, where leadership from both the national and state bodies voiced their concerns over the threat to traditional retailers and public health.
Fighting for Survival: The Core Grievances
The association leadership highlighted that the rise of e-pharmacies, operating without stringent oversight, is creating an uneven playing field that threatens the livelihood of nearly 3,500 medicine traders in Tripura alone.
Key Issues Raised:
- Unregulated Sales: Concerns over the online sale of prescription drugs (Schedule H and X) without proper verification, which could lead to drug abuse and the sale of counterfeit medicines.
- Predatory Pricing: Accusations that corporate-backed online platforms use “exploitative discount models” to create a monopoly, driving local neighborhood chemists toward bankruptcy.
- Public Health Risk: The lack of a physical pharmacist’s oversight in digital transactions, which the association argues is essential for patient counseling and safety.
“A Struggle for Existence”: Sagar Maity
Speaking at the press meet, Sagar Maity, Secretary of the AIOCD North East Zone, emphasized that the strike is a last resort to draw the Central Government’s attention to the plight of traditional druggists.
”Online pharmacies are operating in a legal vacuum, ignoring the Pharmacy Act and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. If this continues, the traditional chemist shop—which people rely on during midnight emergencies—will disappear. This strike on May 20 is a call to protect both our existence and the health of the citizens,” Maity stated.
Total Shutdown in Tripura
ATCDA President Samar Kumar Bhowmik and General Secretary Biswajit Saha confirmed that the strike would be total across all eight districts of the state.
- 3,500 Stores: Every retail and wholesale outlet affiliated with the association will participate.
- Emergency Services: While retail shops will be closed, the association noted that essential medicines for hospitalized patients and critical emergencies would be handled through institutional channels to minimize life-threatening disruptions.
Call for Policy Reform
The association is demanding that the government implement a “One Nation, One Rule” policy that holds e-pharmacies to the same rigorous standards as physical stores. They are also seeking a ban on the predatory discounting that targets small-scale traders.
The press conference concluded with a request to the general public to stock up on essential maintenance medications before the May 20 deadline to avoid inconvenience during the 24-hour shutdown.
