Govt comes out with draft rules for e-pharmacies to regulate online sale of medicines

The Union Health Ministry has released the draft rules on sale of drugs by e-pharmacies with an aim to regulate online sale of medicines across the country. It aims at providing patients accessibility to genuine drugs from authentic online portals. The draft rules on "sale of drugs by e-pharmacy" states that no person will distribute or sell, stock, exhibit or offer for sale of drugs through e-pharmacy portal unless registered. The draft notification said that any person who intends to conduct business of e-pharmacy shall apply for the grant of registration to the Central Licensing Authority through the online portal of the Central Government. The Drugs Controller General of India, Dr Eswara Reddy said after the rules are finalised, people will be able to get genuine drugs through online pharmacies. However, sale of tranquillisers, psychotropic drugs, narcotics and habit forming drugs have been prohibited through these portals