Need to end harassment of e-pharmacy entrepreneurs: Body

While e-Pharmacy is still in nascent stage, the major e-pharmacy players across the country have come together to get in some regulations and end to the harassment faced by the entrepreneurs in this space.

In a press conference held by the Indian Internet Pharmacy Association (IIPA), it said that this segment is to improve the last mile access of medicines using digital technologies without compromising the safety of the patient.

"It aims to contain the potential for any abuse. The IIPA which is an association of e-Pharmacy players and their vendors announced that they are specifically being targeted with an apparent bias and operations are put under disproportionate scrutiny by the concerned authorities and governing bodies," said Prashant Tandon, co-founder 1mg.com and member of IIPS.

He said the challenge that they are facing today is stiff resistance, including unwarranted disruptions from the government machinery, particularly in a Maharashtra and Karnataka, and the prevailing trade association that is averse to any new models or transparency in this space.

Maharashtra FDA recently lodged a complaint against Pharmeasy, one of India's leading e-Pharmacy platforms. However, the police has investigated the matter and come to the conclusion that there is no violation of the FDA rules and regulations. Similarly, in Karnataka, the licenses of vendor partners of Zigy and Medidart were cancelled, and thereafter revoked post investigations.