But they claim to be acting as intermediaries by connecting customers to bricks-and-mortar pharmacies.
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As with so many other things, it is now possible to fulfill the vast majority of your healthcare needs online.
He added, ” The section 65(10)(A) of the Act clearly mentions that one can purchase medicine after showing the doctor’s prescription from medicine retail stores. But these conveniences aren’t without their problems. Earlier on September 29, Union government permitted online pharmacy after talks with Food and Drugs administration (FDA) officials and online retailers.
Pharmacists across the country, facing competition from the sites and apps, are insisting that this regulatory loophole be shut. It was severely reprimanded by Maharashtra state drug control authorities for selling prescription drugs online unlawfully.
However, many web portals promote sale of medicines without guaranteeing the quality of the medicines.
“We want the government to close down all illegal online pharma companies immediately”.
Saying that there is no qualified doctor in rural areas of the country, JS Shinde said that in such areas, unqualified doctors would order or prescribe medicines through e-pharmacy if the system is legalised.
The Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (pdf) defines “drugs” as a variety of substances, diagnostic and medical devices, while cosmetics is defined as any product meant to be applied to the human body for beautifying or cleansing (excluding soaps). This simply means the sale of medicines online will not just be legal, but also affect the business of medical shops and medicine retail chains who are not into the e-commerce scale yet. “In Goa, from October 13 brunette, about 750 forex chemists and in 200 extensive druggists will certainly be on beat for 24 hours”, Tamba said.
The strike will start at midnight on Tuesday and end at midnight on Wednesday.
“This is no way to protest”, said Abhay Kumar, president of the association. A shut-shop protest is not only unethical but it is unsafe too.
“I had come to the market to buy a few medicines but when I reached here I saw all the chemist shops were closed”.
Nadda clarified that the government had not taken any decision about allowing online sale of drugs.
“We will struggle if multinationals enter this business”, he said. “The chemist associations have submitted their views and concerns to the committee”, said Dr Kamble.
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“We believe to safeguard the number players’ curiosity, launch of E Pharmacy may hinder 80 employees and the curiosity of 8 chemists as well as their households, Shinde said”.
