E-pharmacies under radar; Union Health Ministry to initiate stern action

The Union Health Ministry is likely to take strong action against the misuse of drugs by the E Pharmacies including their closure official sources said on ThursdayThe E Pharmacies are currently following that business model which can be problematic for patients who are ordering medicine online their data privacy at risk and possibility of misuse of drugs sources told ANI The Drugs Controller General of India has served show cause notices to illegal EPharmacies selling medicines on the internetThe show cause notices were issued by DCGI on February 8 to the online pharmacies and online platforms in which they were asked to respond within two days or face strict action without any further notice on the sale and distribution of the drugs in the country According to the official sources from the Union Health Ministry EPharmacies are violating various sections of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation CDSCO issued showcause notices to over 20 online pharmacies and online platforms that includes some big players as well in the industry such as Tata1mg Practo Apollo Amazon Flipkart etcAlso Read Uttar Pradesh summit Immense opportunities in health sector says Mansukh MandaviyaThe All Indian Origin Chemists and Distributors AIOCD was constantly alarming Central Government that Drug Acts Pharmacy Act and Other drugs related rulesorders code of ethics do not permit the sale of medicines on the internet and promotion of drug sales by advertising with discounts and schemes as it can be hazardous to the health of the public read statement issued by the AIOCDIn spite of all legitimate appeals requests meetings and Honble High Court orders of Delhi corporate houses were operating illegally with financial power indulging in Predatory Pricing More dangerous was since epharmacies started operating online sale of drugs crossing borders of states in the country the sudden rise has been started in duplicate and spurious drugs AIOCD further saidIt further said that online apps became easy to access Narcotic drugs pregnancy termination kits antibiotics and sedative drugs and its interstate supply direct to patients became very difficult to trace and track by state FDAThe online pharmacies are also creating their own data said AIOCD AIOCD has always highlighted all burning issues that these illegal EPharmacies are creating their own Health data on their portal which was also a threat as to expose of personal health data and its also against the PM health data policy of NHRMThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever