ENA Sectors 2025-09-08 15:45:45 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>New Delhi, Sep 8 (KNN) </strong>Industry leaders, policy experts, and entrepreneurs from Indias digital healthcare sector have urged the government to frame a balanced regulatory framework for e-pharmacies, highlighting their role in expanding healthcare access across the country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The discussion took place during a webinar organised by CUTS International, moderated by senior journalist Anil Padmanabhan.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Speakers noted that e-pharmacies already serve over 15,000 pin codes, reaching patients in remote towns and villages with limited physical pharmacy access.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">They emphasized that technology-enabled features like prescription validation, drug authentication, and traceability often ensure higher safety standards compared to offline pharmacies.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">According to Bipul Chattopadhyay, Executive Director of CUTS International, e-pharmacies offer more than just affordable pricing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">With 24/7 availability, doorstep delivery, refill reminders, and access to online consultations, they have transformed consumer experience in healthcare.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Panelists stressed the urgent need for clear regulations to ensure patient safety while enabling innovation. Nirupama Soundararajan, Co-founder &amp; CEO of Policy Consensus Centre, said pharmacies cannot operate in a regulatory vacuum, particularly given the sensitive nature of medicines.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Legal and public health experts added that e-pharmacies must be regulated by the national drug authority and Ministry of Health to ensure quality control and storage compliance.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Centralized warehouses, they argued, give regulators an opportunity to enforce stricter standards, though risks of misuse remain in both offline and online markets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The discussion underlined that e-pharmacies should complement, not replace, traditional chemists. Examples were cited of local pharmacies expanding their reach by integrating with digital platforms.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Experts predicted that the future of pharmacies in India would follow an omnichannel model, combining local chemists, branded chains, and online platforms.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The session concluded with a call for regulatory clarity on prescription protocols, data security, and operational norms, ensuring that patients benefit from safe, accessible, and transparent healthcare services.</span></p> <p><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px">(KNN Bureau)</span></strong></em></p> 43428 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/sectors/indias-e-pharmacy-sector-urges-government-for-clearer-fairer-regulations 2025-09-08 15:45:45 knnindia.co.in