Soon, medicines to be sold online with changes in Drugs Act
Posted on: 24/Aug/2015 10:10:42 AM
Several Ecommerce companies were brought under scanner of the regulatory board for the sale of medicines through online means. Deviating from this, the government is eyeing on altering the `Drugs and Cosmetics Act` with which Ecommerce firms will be allowed to sell medicines online. This move is made following the representation of retail chains including Medplus, Hetero and Apollo Pharmacy.
In India as well as abroad nations, the sale of medicines online has always been controversial. Figuring out whether the medicine will be used or misused is tough to judge. Recently in May this year, Snapdeal was raided for sale of drugs without proper prescription.
The final call on the issue is yet to be taken, however there have been proposals from various drug controllers. Most of the members of the committee are favorable to agreeing to these pleas of trade bodies, e-retailers, pharmacy chains, etc to let them sell medicines online. However, it needs to be sketched with enough safeguard procedures, said a member of DCGI panel.
The moves by the government are quite strange. Recently, the Telangana government blocked selling sexual wellness products online. However, the same section is still in existence with Flipkart except a few which are removed.
In case if the act is brought into effect and the online sales of drugs is allowed, here are few aspects that need to be checked:
Check out the website in which you are shopping online. Here are few elements that may indicate it is not genuine.
� If the drug sold is of unknown quality of origin
� If a wrong drug is given out for your illness
� If the price offered is far lower than others
� Non availability of contact number to get in touch with the website
� No safety or security for your personal information
� The site provides medicines or drugs without prescription which is completely against law
What to check while buying online medicines online?
� Check out the physical appearance of the product such as color, texture, shape, package, etc
� Check whether the smell and taste of the medicine purchased online is same like the other ones. This may be possible only if you have got prior experience using the same
� If there is any difference found in the medicine, get in touch with your pharmacist or doctor who is providing you the treatment
Domestic medicine market is at the phase of growth at the rate of 10 to 15 percent a year and it is about Rs 90,000 crore. The director of Telangana`s Drug Control Administration, Akun Sabharwal said he has recommended online sales of medicine by enabling the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Anyone who meet the standards will be able to kick-start online pharmacy, heh added. A doctor turned administrator Sabharwal who is well versed in the US model of dispensing medicines online says everyone shoululd be given equal opportunity to be benefitted out of this.
