In
view of the concerns raised on the sale of drugs over internet, the Drugs
Consultative Committee (DCC) in its 48th meeting held on 24th
July, 2015, constituted a sub-committee to examine the issue of sale of drugs
on internet. The
Sub-Committee, in its report, has inter alia recommended:-
·
Creation
of a National Portal to act as the nodal platform for transacting and
monitoring online sale of drugs.
·
Necessity
of evolving a mechanism to register e-pharmacies.
·
Geographical
restrictions for operation of e-pharmacies.
·
Mechanism
for verification of authenticity through a link to the National Portal.
·
Existing
licensees carrying out retail sale of drugs would also be able to register on
the National Portal for carrying out online sale of drugs.
·
As
certain categories of drugs viz. the Narcotic and Psychotropic drugs,
tranquilizers, habit forming drugs and Schedule X drugs that are prone to being
abused or misused to be excluded from sale through e-pharmacies.
·
Amendment
of Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945 for effective monitoring and proper
enforcement of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 for achieving its aims and
objectives.
Any
sale of medicine in the country continues to be regulated as per
provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 as amended from time to
time. In terms of the provisions of the said Rules, drugs specified
in Schedules H, H1 and X cannot be sold except on, and in accordance with the
prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner from a licensed premises.
Therefore, any sale of such drugs other than from a licensed premise is not in
conformity with these rules. Further, other requirements such as noting the
name and address of seller and date on which medicines are dispensed can also
not be met in many cases.
Currently,
e-pharmacies which do not meet the requirements of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules,
1945 including those relating to sale from a licensed premises and maintaining
necessary records, are not permitted.
The Minister of State (Health and Family
Welfare), Sh Faggan Singh Kulaste stated this in a written reply in the Rajya
Sabha here today.
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MV/LK