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| India pharmacies strike to protest online drug sales | India pharmacies strike to protest online drug sales |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 800,000 pharmacies in India are on a one-day strike, demanding an end to online drug sales which they say is affecting their business. | |
| The pharmacies say that online drug retailers are putting customers at risk by failing to follow existing rules. | The pharmacies say that online drug retailers are putting customers at risk by failing to follow existing rules. |
| The government says it is in the process of drawing up guidelines to regulate online drug sales. | The government says it is in the process of drawing up guidelines to regulate online drug sales. |
| A number of companies are selling drugs online to tap a market which is estimated to be worth $10bn ($65m). | A number of companies are selling drugs online to tap a market which is estimated to be worth $10bn ($65m). |
| Although the pharmacies will be shut, customers will be able to buy emergency drugs using special telephone numbers printed on posters and newspapers. | Although the pharmacies will be shut, customers will be able to buy emergency drugs using special telephone numbers printed on posters and newspapers. |
| "It is going to be a 100% strike. Approximately 800,000 chemists will be on strike," All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists chief JS Shinde told AFP news agency. | "It is going to be a 100% strike. Approximately 800,000 chemists will be on strike," All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists chief JS Shinde told AFP news agency. |
| "Our own investigation has shown that anti-pregnancy pills, sleeping pills and steroids are being sold freely online." | "Our own investigation has shown that anti-pregnancy pills, sleeping pills and steroids are being sold freely online." |
| Mr Shinde said 40-50% of the business of India's bricks-and-mortar sellers had been affected because of online drug sales. | |
| "We want the government to close down all illegal online pharma companies immediately." | "We want the government to close down all illegal online pharma companies immediately." |
| India's health ministry said it was drawing up plans to regulate online drug sales. | India's health ministry said it was drawing up plans to regulate online drug sales. |
| "A sub-committee has been constituted to look into the matter, which has so far undertaken only preliminary discussions with the stakeholders to ascertain their views," the health ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. | "A sub-committee has been constituted to look into the matter, which has so far undertaken only preliminary discussions with the stakeholders to ascertain their views," the health ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. |