The Maharashtra State Chemist and Druggist Association (MSCDA) has demanded immediate action against two online pharmacies for selling Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) pills without prescriptions.
The association has sent a letter to the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration about the illegal sales. J.S. Shinde, president, MSCDA, in his letter, said, “For the past three years, we have been continuously highlighting the hazards of sale of medicine online. In spite of all the efforts, we have observed that illegal online sale of medicines continues.”
As of now, there is no law that prevents online sale of medicines. The Drugs Controller General of India, however, has said that these sales must be in strict adherence with the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules.
Mr. Shinde said, “But there is absolutely no check of the quality of medication that is being supplied or the sale of highly-controlled drugs. If a local chemist sells an MTP kit without prescription, he stands to lose his licence. But no one is going after the online pharmacies.”
In 2015, chemists had called for a State-wide strike to protest against online sale of medicines. Mr. Shinde said the Central government is trying to bring in a law on online medicines' sale. Ironically though, while the MSCDA is protesting against online pharmacies, they are also preparing to compete with online players market when the law is in place.
The MSCDA on Monday tied up with a medical services mobile application that aims at aggregating with retailers to reach out to patients through digital prescriptions and delivery management software. The new app will reach out to existing chemists for supply of drugs. Mr. Shinde said they are preparing for competition. He said, “We cannot deny that online pharmacies will sustain once the law is in place. The chemists who have been in the market for so long have to be prepared to face it.”