AIOCD to tap 10 high court doors against online pharmacies in 10 states

New Delhi : AIOCD, All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, the association of over 8.5 lack chemists, is now going to tap the doors of judiciary demanding action against the online pharmacies running in the country.

“Easy access to drugs through internet could lead to irrational use of medicine and drug addiction in youth. We can not compare the operation of online pharmacy in developed countries with India”, is an observation made by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. The organisation is intending to file a petition against illegal operation of online pharmacy in the High courts of ten states of the country .

The petition is being filed to protect both the health of people and the interests of 8.5 lac chemists, said AIOCD, General Secretary ,Suresh Gupta.

A decision to this effect has been taken at a two day meeting held in Hyderabad by the AIOCD on June 25-26. The meeting was attended by 300 office bearers of state level chemists and druggists associations affiliated to AIOCD.

The 10 states from where the petitions are going to be filed include: Maharashtra, Punjab, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Mr. Gupta claimed that it was illegal to sell drugs online under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940

According to Gupta, online pharmacy business is in operation illegally and the concerned authorities are not taking any action. He also revealed that online pharmacies were supplying products including Scheduled H, H1, X drugs that come with a warning, “To be sold in retail on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner only,”

Understanding the seriousness of the issue the Drugs Controller General of India has put ban on sale of drugs online. However the ban is temporary until the 7 member panel headed by Dr Harshadeep Kamble, Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, Maharashtra , submits its report on illegal online sale of medicines.

According to Rule 61 of the D & C Rules, 1945, it is compulsory for drug retailers and wholesalers to get a license to sell medicines. Hence it is clear that medicines, of any category, cannot be sold in the absence of license under the rules, Mr. Gupta concluded.

Read Also : ONLINE PHARMACIES IN INDIA: Analysis in relation to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940