Retail and wholesale pharmacists and chemists in Gujarat on Friday joined the all-India strike called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists Associations (AIOCDA) in support of various demands. As a result, all the medicine shops in the state are closed on Friday. "Gujarat chemists are joining the national strike against the new drug pricing policy that would affect our livelihood," Jaswant Patel, president, Federation of Gujarat State Chemists & Druggists (FGSCDA) said. Instead of cutting the profit margin of small chemists, government should rather focus on multination drug companies who are charging hefty drug price from Indian patient in the name of patent drugs, Patel said. In support of the demands, FGSCDA members will hold dharna (protest rally) near Nehru-bridge in Ahmedabad city on Friday, Patel told media.