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Writer's pictureSanjay Trivedi

Regulating e-Pharmacy Business


A sub-committee had been constituted by the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) to examine issues relating to online sale of drugs. The Sub-Committee has submitted its report to the Drugs Consultative Committee. The Sub-Committee has inter alia recommended:- • Creation of a National Portal to act as the nodal platform for transacting and monitoring online sale of drugs. • Necessity of evolving a mechanism to register e-pharmacies. • Geographical restrictions for operation of e-pharmacies. • Existing licencees involved in retail sale of drugs could also register on the National Portal for carrying out online sale of drugs. • Requirement of registration with CDSCO under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. • Certain categories of drugs viz. the Narcotic and Psychotropic drugs, tranquilizers, habit forming drugs and Schedule X drugs that are prone to being abused or misused be excluded from sale through e-pharmacies. The Government has issued a notice seeking public comments on regulation of sale of drugs including introduction of an electronic platform for regulation of sale of drugs in the country. The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Faggan Singh Kulaste stated this in a written reply in the RajyaSabha here.

Guidelines on Prescribing Genericmedicines

Medical Council of India (MCI) with the prior approval of the Union Government has notified the amendment in Clause 1.5 of Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, vide notification dated 21.09.2016, which now prescribes “Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs”. MCI has issued a Circular on 21.04.2017 vide which all the Registered Medical Practitioners under the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act have been directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions. The State Medical Councils and MCI are empowered under the Ethics Code to take action against such doctors.

National Policy on Thalassemia

Public health is a state subject. However, the Ministry has prepared and issued comprehensive guideline for Haemoglobinopathies (Thalassemia, Sickle cell anemia and other variant anemia) for prevention and management of Haemoglobinopathies. The guidelines provide for screening of every pregnant woman during ANC, pre-marital counseling at the college level and onetime screening for variant anemia for all children in class VIII. There is no proposal to make carrier testing compulsory for relatives of thalassemia patients as it should be voluntary and not cause stigmatisation of the family. Awareness programme on thalassemia are being conducted by several State Governments. The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the RajyaSabha here

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