E-Pharmacy portals to make patients’ lives easier
The formation of a strict monitoring system, which is for the online sale of medicines is underway by the Centre, that has come up with a Self-regulation Code of Conduct for the E pharmacy sector for the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).Notably, these E-Pharmacy portals are expected to make treatments easier.
The e-pharmacy model has been proposed by the apex business organization, which provides digital tracking and traceability of medicines, addressing the problem of the counterfeit medicines and unsupervised consumption of the antibiotics without prescription. It also further improves access and affordability of medicines for patients.
This monitoring system will be further formed in the wake of the significant rise in the popularity of an e-pharmacy in the past year.
E-pharmacy has become an important channel, which is helpful in providing last mile access to the medicines. This will most importantly benefit the patients suffering from chronic diseases, the elderly and sick who are not in the condition to go to the pharmacy.
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Need a valid copy of prescription for ordering medicines
The e-pharmacy model has proposed that medicines must be processed only against a valid copy of a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.
E-pharmacy portals must also ensure no schedule X or other sensitive habit-forming medicines are further processed and that there are adequate checks in place to further prevent the sale of such drugs.
“E-pharmacy players must partner with the government to recall any medicine and collect adverse events of medicines through consumer reports and comply to submit them to National Centre for Pharmacovigilance,” Dr Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI.
India’s sudden burst in an epidemic of chronic diseases has also led to the development of online medicine portals. “We cannot deny that home delivery of medicines is not risky, because there is no tracking. Most of it happens over the phone,” said Bejon Mishra.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has already said that strict action will be taken against those who do not comply with the Drugs and Cosmetic Act.
