Chemists urge regulator to curb e-pharmacies in Gujarat

Chemists and druggists across Gujarat have urged the state regulator to put a curb on e-pharmacies. The move is part of their suggestion about the proposed draft to allow e-pharmacies to operate in the country.

The Federation of Gujarat State Chemists and Druggists Associations, that represents nearly 20,000 licensee (wholesalers and retailers) across the state, has urged Food and Drug Controller Authority (FDCA) that mushrooming of e-pharmacies will create ethical, legal and quality challenges that will amount to endangering lives and cause irreparable harm to society.

It also said that sale of drugs is regulated by state licensing authorities, which is feasible for brick and mortar stores but may not be feasible for e-pharmacies. The draft also lacks clarity on various issues and proposed provisions are violating existing provisions of present Drugs and Cosmetics Act, it said.

"As per the Act, medicines are issued by a pharmacist only if a prescription is submitted at the shop. This is not the case with online pharmacies. Moreover, a customer can source narcotic products multiple times from different online pharmacies. At medicine shops, it is necessary to stamp the prescription to avoid multiple buying of drugs. These safeguards are missing in the proposed draft for allowing e-pharmacies," said Rajendra Patel, honorary general secretary of the Federation.

Medical stores are up in arms against such predatory pricing by e-pharmacies. Jasvant Patel, chairman of the Federation said that when margins are fixed, how are e-pharmacies able to offer deep discounts? He alleged that while samples from shops are being tested by the regulator, why such tests are not conducting for e-pharmacies. "There have been cases of delivery of abortion pills through fake prescriptions. In the case of e-commerce, there are cases of supply of defective products. There is a strong likelihood of supply of spurious drugs. This needs to be curbed," said Patel.

Deep discounts by online pharmacies have made a huge dent in the businesses of chemists and druggists in the country. As these portals also provide home delivery, they buyers find them more convenient.