Vijayawada, May 20 -- As part of the one-day nationwide strike, local pharmacy owners in Vijayawada took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the rising trend of online drug sales and doorstep medicine deliveries.

Organised under the banner of the NTR District Chemists & Druggists Association, the protesters carried banners opposing online medicine sales and doorstep delivery of drugs.

The protestors held placards with slogans such as "Support Local Chemists, Support Safe Healthcare" and "Protect Chemists, Protect Public Health", and demanded strict action against illegal online medicine distribution.

The association members alleged that the online sale of medicines is affecting small and local medical shops and also posing r...