Bhubaneswar, May 30: Bijay Nayak, 26, had a tough time today in finding a prescribed medicine for his sister as chemists observed a 24-hour strike and the state government's Niramaya stores failed to supply it.

The Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association today observed the strike, forcing all medicine stores across the city to remain closed, in protest against the online sale of medicines through e-portals of the Union government.

In view of the strike though the state government kept open its Niramaya stores to provide free generic medicines to patients, in many instances, they did not have the prescribed medicines in their stock.

"My sister complained of nausea early this morning, following which I brought her to Capital Hospital where a doctor treated her. The doctor said it was a minor problem and prescribed some medicines. I came out and found all medical stores closed. Then I went to Niramaya, but couldn't find the medicine," said Nayapalli resident Bijay.

A senior hospital administrator, who did not want to be named, said they had stocked enough medicines for the patients in view of the strike. He said: "But, the burden on Niramaya was so heavy today that stocks of several medicines ended in minutes. We tried our best to procure the out-of-stock drugs."

On the contrary, Capital Hospital superintendent Manoranjan Dash said they had stocked enough medicines and kept the transporting vehicles on standby for immediate procurement of medicines from the warehouse at Kharavela Nagar. "All the medicines were kept in stock keeping in view a possible emergency situation," said Dash.

Another generic drug store of the government, Janausadhi, which usually wears a deserted look, appeared much lively today. Hundreds of people went to the two such stores in the city to buy medicines.

The operator of the Janausadhi store located at Red Cross Bhavan here said today had been a busy day with sales up by at least 50 per cent. "We saw an unusually large number of customers today because of the strike," he said.

But many, who could not have an easy access to such open medical stories, today faced a lot of problems.

"My father is a diabetic. Unfortunately, his stock of medicines got finished yesterday. Today, I went around the city in search of insulin, but had to return home empty handed since no medical stores were open. I am just praying he remains well till the time I can get him the medicine," said Acharya Vihar resident Narayan Mishra.

The situation in Cuttack was normal since the city's association of chemists did not take part in the strike saying that a one-day strike would not help their cause.