More than 1000 comments from associations were against draft rules of e-pharmacies

New Delhi: The group of ministers (GoM) led by Rajnath Singh held its first meeting on October 30 to give teeth to new norms that will regulate the online pharmacy business. The first meeting of GoM to regulate e-pharmacies was held on October 30. The health ministry made a presentation, explaining its position on the issue. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, commerce minister Piyush Goyal, health minister Dr Harshvardhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat attended the meeting. Besides the health secretary and other senior officials of the health ministry, officials from ministry of electronics and information technology and department of pharmaceuticals were also present.

The health ministry had released the draft rules for online pharmacies last year. According to the proposed e-pharmacy rules, which were opened for public comments in September, only government-registered e-portals could sell medicines and they must retain prescriptions and verify details of patients and doctors. More than 1000 comments from associations as well as individuals were against the draft rules, said a senior health ministry official.

At present India’s online pharmacies operate in a regulatory grey area. Last December, the Delhi High Court ordered all online pharmacies in the country to shut by December 20. In the same month, the Madras High Court suspended the ban, after a group of e-pharmacy companies filed an appeal. The order came as a respite for e- pharmacies. But the health ministry has been seeking to finalise the regulation.