Need to amend Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 to promote e-pharmacy in India

26 July 2016

“With the advent of e-pharmacy, there is a need to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, as it does not differentiate between offline and online pharmacies. The government is seized of the issue and is working towards amending the existing law to develop a framework where consumers are benefitted,” said K B Aggarwal, the Additional Secretary (Food and Drugs), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India.

Mr Aggarwal was speaking on Monday during the launch of a report at a session on “E-pharmacy in India - Last Mile Access of Medicines,” organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), reported by The Hindu newspaper.

He added that e-pharmacy would allow easy availability of drugs at all hours. However, there were concerns with respect to legitimacy of e-pharmacies, patients’ safety and privacy, misuse of e-pharmacies and its adverse effect on retailers’ business.

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