FMCG distributors back nationwide chemists’ strike against online medicine sales and deep discounts

The Federation of All India Distributors Associations (FAIDA), representing FMCG distributors across India, has extended its support to the nationwide strike called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists on May 20, escalating industry pressure against online pharmacies and deep discounting practices in the medicines trade.

In a press note issued on May 14, FAIDA alleged that the “uncontrolled growth” of online sales platforms has led to unethical trade practices, unhealthy competition,

misleading pricing promises and disruption of the traditional distribution ecosystem.

The association said physical retail outlets, which operate under regulatory norms and public health standards, are increasingly finding it difficult to compete with online platforms that allegedly engage in “unfair practices” and operate in an “invisible and unregulated manner”.

FAIDA National President Ch. Krishna said the body fully supports the proposed chemists’ strike and urged the government to take immediate steps to curb the online sale of medicines, especially life-saving drugs.

The association argued that medicines, being a highly regulated and sensitive category directly linked to human health, should not be sold through what it described as misleading marketing tactics and aggressive discounting.

According to FAIDA, online platforms are creating an “illusion” of substantially lower prices while allegedly bypassing established legal procedures and prescription-related safeguards.

The distributors’ body also raised concerns over the promotion of generic substitutes without “adequate transparency”, claiming that in some instances products of questionable quality are being supplied to consumers.

FAIDA further accused certain pharmaceutical manufacturers of encouraging “unhealthy competition” through dual pricing systems, where online platforms allegedly receive preferential pricing compared with traditional retail channels.

The association warned manufacturing companies against what it called “dual games”, saying such practices could damage the long-term sustainability of the trade ecosystem and adversely affect lakhs of families dependent on traditional distribution and retail networks.

In its appeal to the Centre, FAIDA demanded:

• Immediate prohibition of online sales of at least life-saving medicines


• Stronger checks on the sale of medicines without prescriptions


• Uniform pricing policies across online and offline channels


• Greater regulatory scrutiny of e-pharmacy operations

The support from FAIDA comes days after the chemists’ body announced a nationwide shutdown call for May 20, protesting against unregulated online pharmacies, deep discounting and alleged violations of drug sale norms.

The latest development signals widening resistance from traditional trade and distribution networks against the rapid expansion of e-commerce and online pharmacy models in India’s healthcare and FMCG sectors.