Committee constituted to examine issue of sale of drugs online: Union Health Minister
Updated: Dec 08, 2015 03:24:09pm
New Delhi, Dec 8 (KNN) On the issue of regularisation of E-Pharmacies, Health Minister J P Nadda today informed Parliament that the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) has constituted a seven member Sub-Committee to examine the issue of sale of drugs on the internet, while taking care of the risks and concerns related to such sales.
The sale and distribution of drugs in the country is regulated as per the provisions under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 made thereunder. As per said Rules, Drugs specified in Schedule H, H1 or Schedule X can’t be sold except on and in accordance with the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.
The supply of prescription drugs can be affected only by or under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist from licensed premises. A number of representations have been received from chemists and druggist associations against the online sale of prescription drugs, he said.
Similarly, a number of representations have also been received to permit such sales. The representations received were discussed in detail in the 48th meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), held on 24th July, 2015.
“The DCC has constituted a seven member Sub-Committee to examine the issue of sale of drugs on the internet, while taking care of the risks and concerns related to such sales,” he said this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
The Government always follows the normal process of inviting objections and suggestions from the stakeholders before making any rules, he said.
The Indian e-pharmacy market is struggling to convert orders into sales as half the orders received by online pharmacies get rejected because of prescription-related errors. The start-ups are already facing opposition from the chemists protesting against increasing online pharmacy industry. (KNN Bureau)
The sale and distribution of drugs in the country is regulated as per the provisions under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 made thereunder. As per said Rules, Drugs specified in Schedule H, H1 or Schedule X can’t be sold except on and in accordance with the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.
The supply of prescription drugs can be affected only by or under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist from licensed premises. A number of representations have been received from chemists and druggist associations against the online sale of prescription drugs, he said.
Similarly, a number of representations have also been received to permit such sales. The representations received were discussed in detail in the 48th meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), held on 24th July, 2015.
“The DCC has constituted a seven member Sub-Committee to examine the issue of sale of drugs on the internet, while taking care of the risks and concerns related to such sales,” he said this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
The Government always follows the normal process of inviting objections and suggestions from the stakeholders before making any rules, he said.
The Indian e-pharmacy market is struggling to convert orders into sales as half the orders received by online pharmacies get rejected because of prescription-related errors. The start-ups are already facing opposition from the chemists protesting against increasing online pharmacy industry. (KNN Bureau)
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