LUCKNOW, May 21 -- Medical stores across Lucknow remained shut on Wednesday as chemists and drug traders staged a protest against the online sale of medicines by e-pharmacy platforms, leaving many residents struggling to purchase medicines from local markets. Shops in major medicine hubs, including Aminabad, Charbagh, Chowk and Nishatganj, remained closed since morning as part of a 24-hour nationwide strike called by trader bodies. Traders' organisations claimed that nearly 12.5 lakh medical stores across Uttar Pradesh supported the bandh, raising concerns over unregulated online medicine sales and the impact of deep discounting on conventional pharmacy businesses. Under the banner of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists and the Lucknow Chemists Welfare Association, traders held protests and demonstrations against e-pharmacy platforms. Amit Tiwari said, "We demand an immediate ban on the online sale of medicines. The biggest concern is that medicines available to us at a 20% margin are being sold online at discounts of up to 40%. The question is where this extra margin is coming from. We are suffering losses because of this." The organisations alleged that medicines were being sold online without adequate verification and proper supervision by registered pharmacists, posing a serious threat to patient safety. Protesters said the issue was not limited to business competition but also involved public health concerns. Association office-bearers claimed that online platforms were allegedly allowing medicines to be purchased using fake or unverified prescriptions, increasing the risk of incorrect medication and adverse health effects. Drug traders also expressed concern over the easy availability of sleeping pills, painkillers and other restricted medicines through online platforms. They alleged that such medicines could reach youngsters without proper checks, raising fears of misuse and addiction. Among the protesters, shop owner Rajeshwar Chandra alleged that online companies were offering heavy discounts on medicines beyond prescribed trade margins, adversely affecting traditional pharmacy businesses and creating apprehensions about counterfeit medicines and irregularities in the supply chain. The organisations demanded stricter regulations for online medicine sales, mandatory monitoring by qualified pharmacists and stronger action against fake prescriptions. Trader leaders warned that if their demands were not addressed, the agitation would be intensified in the coming days. However, another group of drug traders, Dawa Vyapar Mandal (Giriraj), claimed that the nationwide bandh call received only partial support in Lucknow. According to the group, medicine shops near major hospitals, including King George's Medical University, Civil Hospital, Balrampur Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, continued operations and medicines remained available to patients throughout the day. The group also claimed that stores in areas such as Chinhat, Indira Nagar, Aliganj, Jankipuram, Sadar, Gomti Nagar, Alambagh and Transport Nagar functioned normally. It further alleged that attempts were made to forcibly shut some shops in the Aminabad wholesale market and accused certain organisations of intimidating traders who kept their establishments open. The group demanded strict action against those allegedly involved in coercion and threats during the protest. Despite the shutdown, chemist associations maintained that emergency services and life-saving medicines remained available for patients in need. Special arrangements were reportedly made at select locations to ensure that critically ill patients did not face major inconvenience during the strike....