Last year, the government had submitted the draft rules. It informed the court that a period of 45 days is there for suggestions and objections from citizens and stake holders.
The Centre on Friday informed the Bombay High Court that it is likely to publish the final rules to regulate sale of medicines online by January 31.
Advocate D P Singh appearing for the Union of India said that after the draft rules were published, the authorities had meetings with the stake holders. "The rules will be published by January 31,"Singh said. The same is also directed by the Madras High Court, in an order passed recently.
Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice NM Jamdar have now posted the matter for hearing next month. It has asked a senior official from the State Food and Drug Administration department to be present in the court and inform what steps it takes to ensure that Schedule-H drugs, are not sold by offline and online medical stores, without doctor's prescription. The direction was given during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by city-based college professor, Mayuri Patil. She moved the HC after her student took ill after consuming abortion pills purchased online.
She argued that easy availability of such drugs should be banned. Under the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, Schedule 'H' Drugs cannot be bought without doctor's prescription, as their side effects could be dangerous.
Last year, the government had submitted the draft rules. It informed the court that a period of 45 days is there for suggestions and objections from citizens and stake holders.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed that it will regulate the sale of medicines through all channels by asking the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, stockist and retailers to register their stocks on an e-portal.
As per the notice, new pharmacies and chemists, both online and retail, will have to register by paying nominal fees. The current ones will be given a period of two years to complete the transition. Shops and distributors in rural areas will be able to post their stocks on the portal through a mobile app.
The government plans to make the portal, which will be run by an autonomous body, self-sufficient. For this a small transaction fee will be levied while uploading details. It would be either one per cent or a maximum of Rs 200.
Pills on Net
- 200 online pharmacists across India
- Rs 1,000 crore is annual turnover of online sale of medicines
- Under the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, Schedule 'H' Drugs cannot be bought without doctor's prescription
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