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New Delhi : Sale of drugs in the country is regulated under the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules, 1945, thereunder by the State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) through a system of licensing and inspection. SLAs are legally empowered to take stringent action against violation of provisions of the Act and Rules
It has been noted that there are certain online portals selling medicine. Some concerns have been raised by certain stakeholders against online sale of medicine. In order to regulate the online sale of medicine comprehensively, the Government had published draft rules on August 28, 2018, for inviting comments from public/stakeholders for amendment to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, for incorporating provisions relating to regulation of sale and distribution of drugs through e-pharmacy.
The draft rules contain provisions for registration of e-pharmacy, periodic inspection of e-pharmacy, procedure for distribution or sale of drugs through e-pharmacy, prohibition of advertisement of drugs through e-pharmacy, complaint redressal mechanism, and monitoring of e-pharmacy, etc.
Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare) Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in Lok Sabhaon DEcember 13, 2019, according to a PIB release.