Lok Sabha Question No. 4973 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-16
Subject: Sale of Medicines through Online Pharmacies
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, BHARATENDRA SINGH, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4973 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH DECEMBER , 2016

## SALE OF MEDICINES TH ROUGH ONLINE PHARMACIES

## 4973. SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  a  high  level  Committee constituted  by  the  Government  to  regulate the  sale  of medicines through online pharmacies has submitted its report;
- (b) if so, the salient recommendations of the said Report;
- (c)  whether  the  Committee  has  taken into  consideration  the  views  of  all stakeholders  before giving its recommendations and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the percentage of share of medicines sold online in the country; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to check self medication?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a): Yes.  The  Sub - Committee  constituted  by  the  Drugs  Consultative  Committee  (DCC)  t o examine the issue relating to online sale of drugs has submitted its report.
- ( b): The Sub- committee has inter -alia recommended: -
- Creation of a National Portal to act as the nodal platform for transacting and monitori sale of drugs.
- Necessity of evolving a mechanism to register e -pharmacies.
- Geographical restrictions for operation of e - pharmacies.
- Mechanism for verification of authenticity through a link to the National Portal.
- Existing  licensees  carrying  out  retail  sale  of  drugs  wou ld  also  be  able  to  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,  tranquilizer s,  habit forming  drugs  and  Schedule  X  drugs  that  are  prone  to  being  abused  or  misused are to  be excluded from sale through e - p armacies.

(c): The Sub- committee had sought suggestions/comments from stakeholders and also heard the representatives of industr y, associations, NGOs, etc. before preparing the report.

- (d): Data in this regard is not maintained centrally.

(e): Under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 thereunder, t drugs included in  Schedule H, H1 and X are required to be sold by retail on, and in accordance with, the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) only and it is dange take    drugs  included  in  Schedule  G  except  under    medical  supervision.  In  case  of -compliance with the provisions, t he State Licensing Authorities are empowered to take action under the said Act and Rules.