Chennai, May 20: Amid a nationwide strike by chemists scheduled for May 20, K.G. Arunraj assured that essential medical services and the supply of medicines in Tamil Nadu will remain unaffected.
Speaking to the media at the Chennai Secretariat, the Health Minister stated that Chief Minister Vijay has issued clear directives to ensure that no citizen faces inconvenience due to the strike.
Arunraj emphasized, “Pharmacies associated with hospitals will not participate in the strike. Private hospital pharmacies will also remain open. Approximately 5,000 pharmacies across the state will continue to operate.”
He mentioned that the government has deployed drug inspectors to coordinate arrangements and has engaged in extensive discussions with pharmacy organizations.
In case of emergencies, the Health Minister advised the public to directly contact the designated drug inspector coordinators in their districts.
He noted that Tamil Nadu has around 50,000 medical stores, with only a limited number expected to close, while most will continue to serve patients as usual.
Arunraj reassured that there will be no issues with the availability of emergency medications.
He added that the sale of medicines through online platforms is part of the central government’s decision, and the Tamil Nadu government is closely monitoring this. Strict action will be taken against any violations in online drug distribution.
The minister also expressed concerns regarding prescriptions generated by artificial intelligence (AI). He stated that the government is taking this issue seriously and is working on safety measures to prevent misuse.
Notably, the All India Chemists and Druggists Organization has called for a nationwide shutdown on May 20 in protest against online medicine sales policies. The organization claims to represent over 1.2 million chemists across the country.
They have raised concerns about uncontrolled e-pharmacies, heavy discounts on corporate platforms, risks to patient safety, and the sale of antibiotics and addictive drugs without regulation, which could lead to increased antimicrobial resistance.
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