What else is illegal to sell online ?
-------------------------------------
Delhi
High Court has held that online sale of drugs is illegal as it’s not in accordance with the
Act.
An expert committee appointed by the Drugs
Consultative Committee under the Government of India, has already concluded
that online sales of medicine is in contravention of the provisions of Drugs
and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
But , two years back , Hindustan Times ( 21 Dec 2016 ) carried following
report :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The drug committee, in its report submitted to the health ministry, has said medicines
could be sold online, but with changes in several laws .
Currently, medicine sales are banned online.
The report advises the government to amend several acts,
including the IT Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Narcotics Act.
“The report does not deny the possibility of medicine sale
online. It just says several laws need to be changed.
Also, we need a flawless
technical system to regulate sales and route all e-pharmacies through a common platform,”
GN Singh, Drug Controller General of India, told HT.
The number of weekly online shoppers have increased by 33% since
last year, and the number of daily online shoppers have become fourfold from
2013 to 2015.
The government is working on a plan to support e-pharmacies with a strong technology network.
It is likely to test the model by allowing the sale of limited
prescription drugs in the first phase.
Singh said most of the proposals that the state drug controllers
submitted to the government were in favour of the online sale of
drugs.
However, patient security still remains a concern.
The government is also planning to tweak the Drugs and Cosmetics Act
as there is no clause on the online sale of medicines.
“We need to amend several acts and they need parliamentary
approvals. This process could take a year or so,” Singh said.
=========================================================
Two
years gone but no amendments to the Drug and Cosmetics Act !
So
, the High Court must go by a 78 year old law – ignoring ,
========================================================
My Take :
There can be no doubt that DRUGS / MEDICINES
concern the health of people
Hence , not only its’ “ selling “ but
its “ manufacturing – distribution – prescribing etc “ , need to be carefully
regulated
But then there are many other items which too ,
are affecting the well-being of people
These are :
· Cigarettes / Tobacco products / e-cigarettes
· Junk foods / Certain milk products
· Sugary drinks
· Alcoholic drinks
Do current laws prevent their “ Online “ sale as
well ?
Time is not far when every “ product “ will sell
online . Most “ services “ have already gone online
How long will it take our Law-makers to come up
with an amendment to our Drug and Cosmetics Act (1940) to regulate any Indian
to 3D printing of customized drugs at home ?
Those who need convincing re this possibility,
may want to read up :
Made-on-demand,
complex and personalized 3D-printed drug products
( First 3D printed drug product was approved by
FDA in August 2015. )
3D
printing drugs: more precise, more personalised
( One day the patient
may even be able to print their repeat medications at home using a personal machine )
Related Readings :
3
D - Digital Delivery of Drugs
[ 11
Oct 2015 ]
Health
Care through Mobile ? [
24 Nov 2016
]
Online
Sale of Medicines ? [
24 Nov 2016
]
Personal
Health History :
NHS
[ 11
Aug 2018 ]
Ayushman
Bharat : Think
Big
[ 23
Sept 2018 ]
Modicare
: A Game
Changer
[ 01
Oct 2018 ]
=========================================================
14
Dec 2018
www.hemenparekh.in / blogs
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