Government to regulate online sale of medicines in 6 months

Mumbai, March 2017:

The government plans to regulate online pharmacies in the next six months. The Drugs Consultative Committee, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, wants to create a centralized platform to regulate the operations of e-pharmacies.

Currently, e-commerce businesses are governed under the Information Technology Act 2000, and the sales of medicines are governed by the Drugs & Cosmetics Act.

Meanwhile, the online sales of drugs violate the Drugs and Cosmetic Act.

The act mentions that medicines can be sold only under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.

The Indian Internet Pharmacy Association has already launched a self-regulation code for online pharmacists, so as to standardize the sale of prescription medicines and also to address the grievances of their customers.

The government plans to regulate online pharmacies in coming six months.

The Drugs Consultative Committee, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, wants to create a centralized platform to regulate the operations of e-pharmacies.

Currently, e-commerce businesses are governed under the Information Technology Act 2000, and the sales of medicines are governed by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Online sales of drugs violate the Drugs and Cosmetic Act. The act mentions that medicines can be sold only under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.

The Indian Internet Pharmacy Association has already launched a self-regulation code for online pharmacists so as to standardize the sale of prescription medicines and address customers' grievances.