States told to check online sale of drugs

Nagpur: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has directed all the state FDAs (Food and Drug Administration) to keep a strict vigil on online sale of medicines and act against those indulging in online sale of drugs in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules 1940 (DCAR) in public interest.
In a recent letter to all state FDAs, joint drugs controller S Eswara Reddy has stated that the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), a statutory body under the DCAR, had discussed the sale of medicines over Internet and constituted a sub-committee headed by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Harshdeep Kamble to examine the issue and study its impact on public health as well re-examine the provisions of the DCAR.
The DCGI also asked the FDAs to disseminate this communication to all the Licensing Authorities under their jurisdiction for similar action and continue to communicate to the DCGI about the action taken from time to time. The process is aimed at bringing in amendments in the DCAR to cover online sales.
Maharashtra FDA was first to act against various websites and organizations engaged in sale of drugs online to foreign countries. It had taken action against over 1000 websites and online retailers. Sources in FDA told TOI that initially drugs like ‘Sildenafil’, a libido stimulating medicine like Viagra, were being sold illegally online. Later more drugs were included.
JS Shinde, president of both Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association (MSCDA) and All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), told TOI that he was not completely against e-sale. “It should definitely be regulated as developed countries like USA and UK have done.
“You can’t compare the sale of any other commodities online with medicines. Consumer here is not getting it directly from the pharmacist. These drugs could be spurious, substandard, may be used for wrong cause and could be used in overdose. All of this has serious consequences. Our youth could be pulled into the illegal trade and fall prey to these ill-effects. Also the drug mafia could enter this trade. Hence there is a need for creating a better regulation,” he said.
“Who would bear the responsibility in case of adverse reaction of drug sold online without prescription? Even simplest drugs like paracetamol can cause blood vomit in some people. Any self-medication otherwise is also dangerous due to associated side-effects and also patients developing resistance in case of antibiotics. If a medicine shop is expected to dispense drugs only on prescription, why not the same rule for e-pharmacy,” asked a senior FDA official.