E-Pharmacy: Preparation to curb e-pharmacy, Union Health Ministry may take big action

E Pharmacy under Radar Union Health Ministry is going to take strict action against the misuse of medicines by E-Pharmacy. Official sources said that e-pharmacies are currently following that business model which can be problematic for patients who are ordering medicine online, their data privacy is at risk and there is a possibility of misuse of medicines.

strict action notice

The Drugs Controller General of India has recently issued a show cause notice to an illegal e-pharmacy selling medicines over the internet. Show cause notices were issued by the DCGI on February 8 to online pharmacies and online platforms asking them to respond within two days or face strict action on the sale and distribution of drugs in the country without further notice.

Notice issued to more than 20 online pharmacies

According to official sources of the Union Health Ministry, e-pharmacies are violating various sections of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, of 1940. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) issued show cause notices to over 20 online pharmacies and online platforms, including some big companies like Tata1mg, Practo, Apollo Amazon, Flipkart, etc.

Complaints made several times to the central government

The All Indian Origin Chemists and Distributors (AIOCD) had been constantly warning the central government that the Drugs Act, Pharmacy Act, and other drug-related rules, and codes of conduct, do not allow the sale of drugs and drug promotion over the internet.

easy access to narcotic drugs

The AIOCD further said that the online app has made it easy to access Narcotic Drugs, Pregnancy Termination Kits, Antibiotics, and Sedatives and their inter-state supply directly to the patients. The government was told that it has become very difficult to trace and track by the state FDA.

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