PATNA, May 21 -- Medicine shops across Bihar remained closed on Wednesday as chemists and druggists joined a nationwide strike to press for stricter regulation of online medicine sales and protection of traditional pharmacy businesses, a statement from the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association (BCDA) said. The protest, organised under the banner of the BCDA, saw participation from chemists across districts, with shops remaining voluntarily shut in a "peaceful and disciplined manner", according to the association. Among the key demands, the association sought an immediate curb on uncontrolled and illegal online sale of medicines, stricter checks on home delivery of drugs without valid prescriptions, and action against deep discounting practices adopted by e-commerce platforms, which it said were hurting licensed retail pharmacies. In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the BCDA also demanded a transparent and stringent regulatory framework for online drug sales to ensure patient safety, accountability and compliance with laws. It further called for strict enforcement of GSR 817(E) - which mandates prescription verification and detailed record maintenance for online sale of medicines - and GSR 220(E), which relates to licensing and operational conditions for e-pharmacies. The association alleged that the Drugs and Cosmetics Act permits sale and storage of medicines only from licensed premises and does not authorise unrestricted online display, advertisement or sale of medicines over the internet. BCDA office-bearers said chemists had been conducting awareness campaigns since May 15 by displaying posters and wearing black badges to mobilise support for the protest. They claimed the strike received widespread backing from the pharmacy community across the state. The association maintained that the agitation was aimed not merely at safeguarding business interests, but also at ensuring public health safety and protecting the future of small and medium licensed medicine retailers. BCDA president Parsan Kumar Singh and general secretary Prabhakar Kumar appealed to the Centre and the state government to take a "sensitive and balanced decision" on the issue, warning that the chemist community could intensify its agitation if their demands were not addressed....