Maharashtra: Experts react to 6 month extension over online pharmacy

The Centre’s move to seek a six month extension for the publication of the final rules to regulate sale of medicines online has evoked mixed reactions.

Indian Pharmaceutical Association vice president Manjiri Gharat said that the online pharmacies are operating in the absence of any specific legal framework. It is a real danger for the safety of patients. The situation is not ripe enough for online sales.

Maharashtra’s former food and drugs administration commissioner Mahesh Zagde pointed out that it appears that good sense has prevailed and therefore Government of India may be reconsidering its own intention to allow online sale of medicines. ”The government may continue to ban the online sale of medicines because it may lead to catastrophic ill effects on health profile of the country.

Dr Parthiv Sanghvi, former secretary Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra) observed that dealings of online pharmacy (sale and purchase of medications) by the patients has not received a legal sanction from any court of India. ”Hence if there is adverse reaction/wrong medication who is responsible? Medications not under the supervision of prescribing doctors can prove injurious to the health of patients,” noted Dr Sanghvi.

• However, companies engaged in sale of online medicines preferred not to comment citing the next hearing slated this week in Madras and Delhi high courts.