Bhubaneswar, May 29: Starting from today midnight, all medicine stores will be shut for 24 hours due to a strike initiated by the All India Organisation of Chemist and Druggist across the country. The Utkal Chemist and Druggist Association (UCDA) will be conducting the strike in Odisha. This strike has been initiated against the online sale of medicines and e-portals set up for medicines by the Central government. There are over 17,000 medicine stores and their closure for 24 hours will affect the public health services in a major way. However, the state government has taken steps for ensuring that patients at hospitals get their required medicines. The hospital authorities have been directed to keep a stock of medicines ready under Niramaya scheme. Pramod Meherda, health secretary informed this to media.
