Mumbai: Several medical stores across Mumbai remained closed on Wednesday as chemists joined a nationwide strike, causing inconvenience to patients and customers seeking medicines and healthcare essentials. The protest was organised by chemist associations over various industry-related concerns, leading to widespread shutdowns of pharmacies in different parts of the city.
According to the Free Press Journal, the strike affected both standalone pharmacies and several retail medicine outlets, with many shutters remaining down throughout the day. Patients dependent on regular medication, including senior citizens and those with chronic illnesses, reportedly faced difficulties in accessing essential medicines.
The report stated that the nationwide protest was called to oppose certain policies and operational issues impacting chemists and drug retailers. While emergency services in some hospitals continued to function, the closure of nearby medicine shops created challenges for many residents.
As reported by the Free Press Journal, some pharmacy owners displayed notices informing customers about participation in the strike, while a few medical stores remained operational in select areas to cater to urgent requirements. However, the overall shutdown significantly impacted medicine availability in Mumbai.
The strike also highlighted concerns regarding the healthcare supply chain and the dependence of patients on local chemist shops for immediate access to prescription drugs and medical supplies.
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