Emergency Healthcare Hit by Medicine Store Strike
Ground Report by Narendra Raut, May 20,2026 - The statewide closure of private medicine stores during the nationwide bandh called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) exposed major gaps in emergency healthcare preparedness in Koraput district, with several patients and attendants facing difficulties in accessing medicines on Tuesday.
From Koraput town to Jeypore, Semiliguda, Sunabeda, Kotpad and Borigumma, most retail medicine shops remained shut in protest against online medicine sales. The bandh created panic among patients dependent on regular medication, while many attendants were seen searching for open pharmacies during emergencies.
Though the Odisha government had instructed authorities to ensure uninterrupted supply of life-saving medicines, several residents alleged that the arrangements on the ground were inadequate. Hospital-attached pharmacies remained overcrowded as people rushed to obtain emergency medicines after private shops downed shutters.
Many citizens questioned why the administration failed to make proper contingency arrangements despite having prior information about the bandh. Residents said medicine shops are an essential public service and should never remain closed during emergencies.
A senior citizen from Semiliguda criticised the situation and stated that even during the Covid pandemic, medicine stores continued functioning while almost every other sector remained shut. “Medical stores are directly connected to public health. Patients suffer badly when these shops remain closed. The administration should have ensured all emergency medicine facilities remained functional,” he said.
Meanwhile, local chemists and medical representatives defended the protest, saying the rapid rise of online medicine businesses is severely affecting traditional pharmacy owners. They alleged that online platforms are damaging customer trust in local medicine stores through unrealistic discounts and aggressive pricing.
Nilanchal Dakua, a medical representative from Koraput district, expressed concern over the growing online medicine trend and questioned the quality standards behind massive discount offers. He stated that many consumers are attracted only by low prices without checking medicine composition, manufacturing quality or authenticity.
“How can a company provide discounts of more than 50 per cent on medicines? People don’t even verify the composition or quality of medicines anymore. Instead, they come to local medicine stores and argue over pricing. Such activities are harming the trust and credibility of small pharmacy businesses, and shop owners are facing harassment from customers,” Dakua said.
He further added that independent medical shop owners are struggling to survive due to online competition, despite maintaining proper storage conditions, licensed distribution and direct patient interaction.
The bandh once again highlighted the growing conflict between online medicine platforms and traditional retail chemists, while also exposing the lack of a strong emergency healthcare response system in districts like Koraput during large-scale shutdowns.