Pharmacies down shutter to protest e-trade

Most chemist and druggist outlets in Yeshwanthpur, Peenya Dasarahalli, Vidyaranyapura, Yelahanka Satellite Town and Konankunte remained closed to protest against the Centre for registering e-pharmacies.

Raghunath Reddy, president of Karnataka Chemist and Druggist Association, said that the bundh was successful in Karnataka, despite few outlets remaining open.

“We cannot force pharmacies to shut down. It has to be voluntary. As another association did not support the bundh, outlets in Rajajinagar, and Vijaynagar remained open,” he added. As there was confusion about the bundh among druggists, many outlets which were closed in the morning, opened after 11 am.

Reddy said that their organisation was affiliated with the all India organisation, and their representatives in Delhi would hold talks with the Union Health Ministry officials.