Abu, who had been suffering with polio since he was toddler, is the only bread winner in the family of five.
A physically disabled, 34-year-old Abu Faizal with over ten thousand other chemist from across the national capital was present at the Jantar Mantar, demanding streamlining of online pharmaceutical sales, which according to retailers have been illegal and is also a threat to small retailers like Abu who's only source is his medical shop.
Abu, who had been suffering with polio since he was toddler, is the only bread winner in the family of five. As the online sales of medicines started to gain momentum he along with thousands of retailers, have seen steep decrease in the income, as most of the customers opt for heavy discount offering websites and deliver it home.
Now, the father of two finds it difficult to even get his bills paid and fears for future of his family.
"Even though my shop is small, but it is the only source of income for me, and above all this is my source of self respect and these e-pharmacies have already started to take away my income. I hope government would act before these sites take away my self respect," said Abu Faizal, who medical shop in Okhla.
While the e-pharmacies have started to gain popularity especially in metro cities, the retailers who have been relying on the business for years have now lost a fair share of their income. The retailers claim that unchecked selling of medicines on these sites would make allow youth to get unlimited dosages of medicines which are supposed to be sold on prescription.
"These sites are actually supplying medicines, which retailers were prohibited to sell, unless a prescription writes so. This unchecked sells would push country's youth towards addiction, and I don't see government doing anything to make sure that does not happen," said 28-year-old Vipin, who runs medical shop in Munrika.
However, the traders argue that online sales of medicines have not only hampered their sales but has also raised question marks on the future of work force working at these shops, and the youth who has been studying B.Pharma, with a hope to open a medical shop in future.
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