AIOCD urges Union Home Minister to ban on illegal online sale of medicines

New Delhi | Desk: The All India Association of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) representing over 12.40 lakh chemists across the country, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking an immediate ban on illegal online sale and instant delivery of prescription drugs by e-pharmacies and instant commerce platforms like Zepto and Blinkit.

In the letter to Shah, AIOCD President JS Shinde and General Secretary Rajiv Singhal stated that despite the injunction and clear provisions of the Delhi High Court of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the online pharmacies have been delivering schedule H/H1/X medicines without proper monitoring of the prescriptions leading to grave threats to public health and escalating drug abuse, especially among youths. 

AIOCD has highlighted several concerns including "ghost prescriptions" medicines prescribed without genuine verification (for example, midnight prescriptions issued for distant patients), lack of monitoring of prescriptions leading to misuse of drugs such as pregabalin, leading to rapid increase in drug abuse.

The Organization also stressed that while the offline chemists face strict regulations unlike the online players as they remain unchecked. leading to surge in drug abuse by 55 percent. 

Besides, these foreign funded startups are able to sell drugs like normal commodities weakening India's domestic market increasing unemployment. 

The AIOCD has urged the government to impose an immediate ban on sale and the 10-minute delivery of Schedule H/H1/X drugs, shut down e-pharmacies violating the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and strict enforcement to protect youth from the menace of drug addiction. 

The AIOCD leadership said, "It is not just a matter of regulation but of protecting the health and future of the nation. We fully support Home Minister Amit Shah ji's mission of 'Ek Yudh Nasha Ke Viruddh' and are ready to assist the government in eradicating this menace."