The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) on February 21 called for a nationwide ban on online pharmacies, alleging that e-retailers were blatantly violating norms of the Pharmacist Practice Regulation, 2015 by selling medicines through online mode.
Montu Patel, President of PCI, said online pharmacies that sell medicines to patients without proper consultation from a doctor should be banned and action should be taken against them for following illegal practices.
“The PCI is against e-pharmacies. It is clearly stated in the Pharmacist Practice Regulation, 2015 that without patient counselling medicines can’t be given to them,” Patel told Moneycontrol in an interview.
The PCI president alleged that online pharmacies were eroding patients’ confidence in both doctors and pharmacists.
“The online pharmacies are bypassing rules and there have been several complaints against them but no action has been taken yet. There are instances of ghost doctors and pharmacists writing fake prescriptions and dispensing medicines,” he alleged.
Noting that registered pharmacists were losing their value because of the online pharmacies, the PCI president claimed anyone could get medicines online without prescriptions.
“Online pharmacies aren’t present anywhere in the world, including developed countries where drug regulations are streamlined. In India, the Union health minister has initiated an action against pharmacies functioning illegally,” he added.
‘E-prescription rules violated’
Patel alleged that many online pharmacies were not following the government rule of electronic prescription, which should be digitally signed by a registered medical practitioner.
“We are not against electronic prescription but if you scan a prescription copy and upload it on a portal, that’s not an e-prescription. An e-prescription should be digitally signed by a registered medical practitioner and its non-repudiation should be ensured at all times. Is it happening in the case of online pharmacies? Who is to be held accountable if something happens to the patient,” he asked.
As per the Union government’s Electronic Health Standards, 2016 norms, an electronic prescription signed by a registered medical practitioner must mention the registration number.
“In the case of online pharmacies, the registered numbers of both doctor and pharmacist are not written or mentioned,” he alleged.
“There are numerous online portals where prescriptions are generated but the registration number of the doctor is missing, can this blatant disregard of rule continue?” he asked.
‘DCGI, state regulators should act’
When asked about the action by drug regulators on the alleged violations, Patel lauded Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s call for action on e-pharmacies.
“Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya is himself pushing for action in this case. The DCGI and state drug regulators should take a call, and as per law immediate action should be taken on them and their online sales should be stopped,” he said.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had given show-cause notices to online pharmacies, asking them why action should not be taken against them for selling and distributing drugs without a licence.
The All Indian Organisation of Chemists and Distributors (AIOCD) has been pushing for banning e-pharmacies in India for alleged violations of drug Acts, Pharmacy Act and other drugs related rules/orders and codes of ethics.
Patel said the Centre was responsible for making policies but the implementation of rules came under the states' responsibility.
“As the Pharmacy Council of India, we are opposing these fake online pharmacies. If these pharmacies get more promotion, the offline network that we have on the ground will get disturbed,” he added.
Highlighting the role of drug licence, the PCI president said the pharmacy Act states that the medicine can be sold only by a licensed pharmacist.
“Tomorrow anyone from any place can bring medicine and can deliver it at any place, how will the accountability be fixed? Adverse drug reactions are on a rise in India, people are buying antibiotics indiscriminately but drugs bought without the consultation of doctors can have an adverse effect on the health of common people,” he added.
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