DCGI tightens its control over online pharmacies- imposes temporary ban

"Although the ban is temporary , it is still a ban. Hence, local drug control authorities must need to react quickly to ensure the proper implementation of rule,  as several online pharmacy stores are still operating on the ground," said Ramesh Chandra Gupta, president of the Hyderabad chapter of AIOCD told TOI.

Earlier last year, in opposition of Online sale of medicines, more than 8 lakh of chemist under the banner of AIOCD had gone on a strike on 14th october 2015. They had stressed that  from the general point of view online sale of medicines (e-pharmacy) is misusing the prescription drugs besides creating unemployment. so government needs to be make sure that online line sale of drugs must be banned.

Further over on online sale of drug Union health minister J.P Nadda had clearly stated his view that no decision has yet been taken to allow sale of medicines using the internet, and the process of bringing the online pharmacies under the Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1940 is still impending.

Although these policies are still pending, a number of ventures of online pharmacies have come up in the past six months, who are selling both OTC and prescription drugs online. While many have setup a business model requiring physical verification of prescriptions on nearby chemists, it still remains to be seen what would be permitted in the draft guidelines.

Meanwhile, in the light of above order, it would be difficult for the e-retailers of medicines to function at all.