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Online pharmacy | E Pharmacy in India | History & laws
Online Pharmacy or E- Pharmacy currently is highest growing online market in the field of medicines industry. It is based on E- Commerce's principle of buying and selling of goods and services over an electronic network. These platforms perform in market by delivering medicines and other health products though the retailer partners or courier services. They operates over the internet and sends the orders to consumer through shipping companies or mail now a days most of the companies are not directly sale medicines they only deliver it.
In 1990 the digital market started a destination for consumer. In February 1999 the online pharmacy Drugstore.com was launched including PlanetRx.com, and Soma.com, began to appear early in 1999 Drugstore.com was not the first but it provides excellent customer services and shut down at September 2016.
In 2009 approximately 3000 online pharmacies started and it had raised in 2010 increasing 5000. The growth of online Pharmacy is significantly escalating not only in western countries but also, in India
Demand of consumers for alternative medicine or any substitute unethical online pharmacies sometimes send or deliver counterfeit medications or outdated medicines as an Increased in fraudulent and illegal sites National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Initiate VIPPS program ( Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites ) It's a voluntary certification program which provides a basis for identifying those online pharmacies that are appropriately licensed (pharmacy via Internet)
The characteristics of Online Pharmacies that are Certified by the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) Program offering prescription drugs through home delivery or local pick-up at affiliated pharmacies and medication profiles and order status online It also include Providing drug information with drug prices , maintaining patient medication profiles and shipping and Storing prescription drugs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
To Regulate the online pharmacies certain criteria are made In 2013 by
- Indian Internet Pharmacies Association (IIPA)
- Digital Health Platforms (DHP)
Which include selling of medicines without prescription are not allowed and No Sale of Schedule X drugs
In 2015 Pharmacy Council of India (PCI ) declare that all the electronic prescriptions are valid It appears that a scan copy of prescription is also valid
Due to online sale-purchase of medicines, licensed chemists were suffering losses, while on the other hand it was also leading to hike in the sale of banned medicines and drugs, which was loss to the drive initiated against drugs by the government On 12 December 2018 Delhi High Court has banned online selling of medicines
Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) took action against Snapdeal.com for the sale of prescription drugs online and ordered First Information Report (FIR) be filed against Kunal Bahl, the CEO of e-commerce giant Snapdeal.com.
The Madras High Court imposed a ban on the e-pharmacies that were Delivering medicines without a license.
factors like an increasing in internet accessibility, increasing aging population, such as growing e-commerce and rising economic growth are expected to drive the market
More then 300 Online pharmacies has raided in Mumbai , Thane and Pune by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they have not a valid license OR buying and selling certain categories of drugs are strictly prohibited according to Pharmacy acts which Include Drug and Cosmetics Act 1940, Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1945, Pharmacy Act 1948 and Indian Medical Act 1956.
to regulate online sale of medicines across India On 28 December The Union Health Ministry of India has established E-Pharmacy Draft rules on sale of drugs by online
- One license in any state is mandatory to sell medicines over the country
- advertising of any drug is not allowed
- selling of scheduled medicines like habit-forming drugs and narcotics have been prohibited
- No one can sale or distribute medicines without registration with e-pharmacy portal
- patient data should be kept confidential except central government or the state government
- at least 12 Hours and all seven days a week customer support is mandatory
- registration with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is compulsory for any new E - pharmacy
From the E-Pharmacy’s website sale of the prescription medicines are defined under the Information Technology Act
some of the popular E-Pharmacy in india are _
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