The Silicon Review ^Asia

Madras High Court has passed an interim order that restrains online e-pharmacies from selling medicines online until further orders, thus affecting the clash between the traditional drug stores and online stores. This move comes after a plea from the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association regarding the authenticity and safety of the medicines being sold online. The association has requested to block the links of websites saying that their products might be expired, unapproved and fake.

It has also emphasized on the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Drugs, Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and Pharmacy Act, 1948 pointing out that the online sale of medicines in India is not legalised.For now, the Centre will have to respond on the case according to the court’s ruling, and the further hearing will be done on November 9.

Pradeep Dadha, Netmeds.com founder and CEO, said, “We came to know from the media that some order was passed by the Honourable Madras High Court and we would not be in a position to comment on this till our legal team examines the implications of the ruling.” Over the past two years, several traditional medical stores have been making their protests against the expansion of online pharmacy stores in India under the banner of AIOCD (All India organization of chemists and druggists).

The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) has thus formed a panel of seven members to investigate the issue of online medicine sales and had proposed for a developing a license for the pharmacies. Some guidelines have also been sanctioned according to which e-pharmacies have to pay a fee of Rs 50,000 for registration with the DCGI which will be valid for three years and they won’t be allowed to sell tranquilisers, narcotic drugs and Schedule X drugs.