Bhubaneswar: Odisha joined the nationwide strike called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) to protest Centre's move to regularise online sale of drugs.

Around 22,000 medicine stores across the State were shut today in support of the strike.

However, the medical shops on the premises of all the government and private hospitals will remain opened for emergency service.

The association threatened the government to intensify the strike the decision of regularisation of e-pharmacy will not be rolled back.

The AIOCD declared agitation on Friday to protest the government's move to regularise online sale of medicines.

The Centre on August 28 had issued draft rules on the sale of drugs by e-pharmacies with an aim to regulate online sale across the country and provide patients to get genuine drugs online from authentic sites.

However, the AIOCD, the apex body of chemists, launched strike claiming that online sale of medicines will affect the livelihoods of 8.5 lakh chemists across the country and fail to cover the larger interest.