Why Are There No Medical Shops on Railway Platforms? The Real Reason Explained
Indian Railways once allowed chemist stalls at stations, but changing policies and space concerns led to a major shift in how medicines are sold on platforms.
If you frequently travel by train, you may have noticed that railway platforms today offer almost every essential service. From food stalls and tea vendors to bookstores and convenience outlets, passengers can easily find what they need during their journey. However, one thing that is rarely visible at railway stations is a dedicated medical shop. So, why are medicine stores usually missing from railway platforms? Interestingly, there was a time when medical shops were available at railway stations. Just like bookstores and general retail outlets, chemist stalls were also allotted space on platforms. According to official railway documents, in 2001, the Railway Board clarified that stations equipped with doctor facilities could allocate a maximum of 108 square feet for chemist stalls.
In some cases, medicines were sold through small medical sections inside bookstalls, where the minimum or maximum space requirement did not apply. This clearly shows that Indian Railways earlier provided space for medicine-related services.
However, railway policies changed over time. Under new regulations, separate medical stores have largely been replaced with Multi-Purpose Stalls (MPS). Earlier, railway platforms had different categories of shops, including bookstores, chemist stalls, and general utility stores.
The primary reason for this shift was overcrowding on railway platforms. Multiple separate stalls occupied more space and reduced movement areas for passengers. To improve convenience and reduce congestion, the railways merged several services into single multi-purpose stalls.
Today, these MPS outlets are allowed to sell common over-the-counter medicines that do not require a doctor’s prescription. This means passengers can still access basic medicines without the need for separate pharmacy shops on platforms.
Meanwhile, the government is also working to improve healthcare access at railway stations. Efforts are underway to establish Jan Aushadhi Kendras at selected stations, while medical facilities at major A1 category stations are also being strengthened.
At present, only around 21 railway stations across India have separate medical stores operating on their premises.
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