On March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nation-wide lockdown to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Although, shops selling essential commodities were allowed to remain open at all times, panic buying and hoarding has caused an acute shortage of several essential medicines. Chemists say that patients who needed medicines for 15 days only have bought stock for over three months, apprehending uncertainty in supply in the near future. This has caused a shortage of medicines in many states and union territories.