Indian Government Likely to Lift Ban on E-Pharmacies

Government lifts temporary ban on online drug sales following recommendations from the expert committee which says prescription drugs out of online pharmacies to be unfair for consumers now.

The Drugs Consultative Committee has sent a report to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to resume the online sale of drugs which was prohibited last year.

‘Health Ministry likely to lift ban on the online sale of medicines following recommendations from expert committee.’

A senior official in the DCGI office said, "We are in the process of adding our comments to the report and will forward it to the health ministry in the next few days."

Selling drugs online however has to meet certain criterias as a safety measure which may include

• Legal framework of online pharmacy
  
• Maintaining prescription records
  

The committee also stated certain suggestions like forming a central portal to register the online pharmacies which may contain certain rules and regulations under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to bring any violation on books and to form a committee which would consciously frame certain rules for e-pharmacies.



Source: Medindia