Guwahati: As part of a nationwide call given by the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD), nearly 12.40 lakh pharmacies and distributors across the country, including around 22,000 members from all 30 districts of Assam, are set to observe a 24-hour shutdown on May 20, 2026.
In a statement issued ahead of the strike, the organisation alleged that an unrecognised group is attempting to create confusion among traders by spreading misinformation regarding the shutdown. According to the organisation, the group is allegedly linked to online trade and corporate entities promoting predatory pricing practices, which they claim could encourage the circulation of counterfeit and addictive medicines and pose risks to public health.
The organisation also dismissed allegations that the nationwide strike is aimed at inconveniencing patients, calling such claims “baseless” and “misleading.”
To ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines during the shutdown, the organisation stated that emergency arrangements have already been put in place across Assam. Selected pharmacies, along with several other medical stores in different locations, will remain operational to provide emergency medicines and essential healthcare support.
The organisation further informed that prior notices regarding the emergency arrangements have already been submitted to the Assam Drug Controller and district drug inspectors. Memorandums and notifications have also been forwarded to the Health Department Secretary, Commissioners and District Commissioners across the state.
According to the statement, the primary objective of the strike is to safeguard the livelihood of nearly five crore people associated with the pharmaceutical trade across the country and to protect them from financial insecurity. The organisation alleged that groups opposing the shutdown are acting against the interests of those dependent on the pharmaceutical sector.
