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News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
French Firm Servier Drops Exclusive Deal For Selling High BP Drugs After Chemists' Pushback
Last Updated: After successful mediation by offline chemists, Servier promptly withdrew the agreement – which is seen as a positive step towards preserving the fairness of open trade practices. In a major development impacting the pharmaceutical distribution landscape in India, an Indian arm of French drugmaker Servier has officially withdrawn its exclusive distribution agreement for its anti-hypertensive product line, reverting to conventional distribution practices. The move comes after the apex lobby of offline chemists, All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), raised concerns, alleging the potential monopolistic implications of Servier's deal with Entero Healthcare, a supply chain specialist company. AIOCD represents more than 12 lakh chemists and distributors in India, pushing Servier to discontinue the arrangement of supplying certain products via Entero. The majority of the AIOCD's partners refused to sell the drugs sold by the French drugmaker. After facing industry pushback, in a letter dated May 26, 2025, Servier India informed its trade partners that it has 'discontinued exclusive distribution arrangement for anti-hypertensive range of products" with immediate effect. The letter has been seen by News18. This update follows a formal communication by AIOCD on May 28, addressing the issue. The letter detailed how many members of the organisation had expressed concerns over the exclusivity agreement, warning that it could lead to discriminatory trade practices, shortages in essential medications, and the formation of monopolistic structures within the pharmaceutical supply chain. AIOCD, in a letter, said that the organisation mediated with Servier to ensure a fair resolution. 'After successful mediation by AIOCD, the company has promptly withdrawn the said exclusive distribution agreement. This is a positive and encouraging step toward preserving the balance and fairness in our open trade practices," the letter read. The development is being seen as a victory for chemists and druggists across India, many of whom feared market distortions and reduced access to essential medicines due to exclusive arrangements. 'We have had fruitful discussions with AIOCD. Servier India is focused on improving patient access to our quality medicines. We will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders," Aurelien Breton, managing director, Servier India told News18. Brenton told News18 that he is thankful to AIOCD 'for the constructive dialogue, which allowed us to resolve the matter amicably in the interest of the healthcare community and patients at large." 'Servier is a global pharmaceutical group governed by a nonprofit foundation, committed to making a meaningful social impact for patients and contributing to a sustainable world." Headquartered in France, Servier operates in around 140 countries. Sources close to the development told News18 that, 'Servier's management rushed the distributor appointment, with inadequate market assessment and due diligence. However, now, it has made right decision following the general rules of the Indian pharma trade market." First Published: June 02, 2025, 12:40 IST
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Chemists' org warns against Centre's plan to expand OTC drug list
1 2 Shillong: The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists has cautioned against the Centre's proposal to classify more medicines as over-the-counter (OTC) products, maintaining that this would have harmful effects on the health of the people. In a statement issued on Friday, the Meghalaya Healthcare Association , which is a unit of the AIOCD, cautioned the potentially dangerous consequences of this move and pointed out that medicines, even those used routinely, require expert supervision to avoid harmful effects. "Paracetamol is widely used as a pain reliever, but an overdose can cause serious liver and kidney damage," David Kharsati, president of the Association said in the statement and also highlighted the risks of diclofenac, a common anti-inflammatory drug available in potassium and sodium forms. "These two variants must be prescribed carefully, especially for patients with blood pressure issues. Interchanging them without proper guidance can worsen the condition," he said. He added while the govt may aim to simplify access, expanding the OTC list could disrupt the existing supply chain and lead to confusion among consumers. The AIOCD, which represents around 12.5 lakh chemists across India, also raised concerns about the growing financial strain on local pharmacies and cited the rise of online pharmacies and govt-supported schemes like Jan Aushadhi and Dawa India as major factors behind declining business margins.
Mint
12-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
All India Chemists and Druggists association urges members to ensure adequate stock supplies in border states
New Delhi: The All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) have directed all its 1.2 million members, particularly, stockists, wholesalers and retailers to maintain adequate stocks life-saving drugs and pharmaceutical items in border states. AIOCD has asked its members to immediately report any kind of supply chain disruption to the association for timely response. 'As frontline contributors to the healthcare system, we bear the critical responsibility of ensuring uninterrupted access to essential medicines and medical supplies across every corner of the country. We urge you to maintain adequate stocks and readiness for timely supply of vital products, including but not limited to the first-aid and emergency care items, burn and trauma treatment supplies, and medicines for chronic and critical conditions such as diabetes, cardiac issues, cancer, renal disorders, etc and infection control products and general health essentials,' J.S. Shinde, president, AICOD said in a letter to members and chemists across the country. Additionally, members have also been requested to anticipate and prepare for any surge in demand and immediately report any shortages or logistical issues to AIOCD for timely coordination with manufacturers and suppliers. According to the department of pharmaceuticals, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is worth approximately $50 billion with over $25 billion of the value coming from exports. About 20% of the global exports in generic drugs are met by India. The country has 10,000 pharmaceutical companies, out of which 2,000 are MSME drug firms. 'We are not here to do only commerce, but also to extend a larger national service—ensuring the public's health and safety during times of uncertainty. We have also written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring him that are ready to serve in any way necessary to support emergency health needs,' Rajiv Singhal, general secretary at AICOD said. Earlier, Mint reported that the government has also reviewed the health sector preparedness measure to address any kind of challenges arising due to the India-Pakistan conflict. The government is preparing the list of medicines and other life saving surgical equipment that are largely used for the treatment of trauma, blast, fire and gunshot injuries respectively. Hospitals have also been directed to augment the number of beds, medicines and healthcare staff to address the needs of the patients in the bordering states.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
ETtech Explainer: Impact on e-pharmacies on govt's review of doorstep medicine delivery
Live Events India's top drug advisory panel – the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) – has formed a sub-committee to review a 2020 notification that allowed doorstep deliveries of medicines. This notification, which was issued during the Covid-19 pandemic, has become the latest bone of contention between offline pharmacists and digital drug delivery All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists ( AIOCD ), representing 1.24 million chemists and distributors, has been demanding the withdrawal of the doorstep delivery of medicines, alleging its misuse by digital health ministry, in March 2020, had come out with a notification that any licenced chemist could make doorstep deliveries of medicines 'to meet the requirements of emergency arising due to pandemic Covid 19'. It also laid down certain conditions for doorstep drug deliveries, such as the availability of a prescription and the maintenance of records of such deliveries made. This move by the central government essentially allowed not only e-pharmacies but also offline chemists to make home deliveries of prescription AIOCD has said that the notification is no longer relevant and should therefore be revoked, given that the emergency phase of the pandemic no longer exists. The chemists' body approached Union health minister J P Nadda earlier this year, flagging 'mounting concern regarding the continued misuse of this notification by various digital platforms". It also said that the practice of dispensing medicines without validated prescriptions prioritised profits over patient at e-pharmacy companies anticipate little impact from the withdrawal of this notification. 'We operate with the necessary licences under the law…even prior to the notification, we operated in a fully legal and compliant manner. There is a public perception that this notification impacts our business but our lawyers have advised us that as long as we are compliant with the laws, there shouldn't be much of an impact,' a senior e-pharmacy executive told ET. However, there are growing concerns over the operations of quick commerce firms, which are either operating on a store-in-store model (by having a pharmacy operate inside their dark stores) or tying up with licensed online pharmacies.'E-pharmacies have been delivering medicines to the doorstep even before the pandemic, but the law and order were not very specific and clear. The haziness around it was removed after the March 2020 order came, which allowed them legally to do it because of the circumstances,' Gauri Chaudhari, cofounder of pharma and healthcare consultancy firm Brand burgeoning online pharmacy sector remains mired in regulatory uncertainty, operating in a legal grey zone that has sparked growing opposition from traditional chemist lobby groups have voiced strong protests against e-pharmacies, citing the lack of formal oversight, and although the government has made repeated attempts to introduce legislation to govern the digital sale of medicines, no concrete law has been enacted so in 2018, the Union health ministry issued a draft notification aimed at regulating the sector, which included a proposal to prohibit the sale of medicines without proper registration. However, the draft rules have yet to be finalised, leaving the sector in as a formal law on regulating e-pharmacy operations is yet to be finalised, companies are increasingly moving towards rapid delivery of medicines. ET had reported in March that rapid delivery of prescription medicines is emerging as the next battleground in India's quick commerce industry, with established firms such as Tata Digital's 1mg and Apollo 24/7, and startups vying for a share of this fast-growing commerce firms Swiggy Instamart and Flipkart Minutes have tied up with Pharmeasy to offer 10-minute medicine deliveries, and Zepto is setting up this service in its own insiders say that despite surging consumer demand for quick medicine delivery, online pharmacies may face significant hurdles that could stall their aggressive growth ambitions. The biggest challenge lies in meeting shorter delivery timelines while complying with complex approach being taken by companies, including Tata 1mg and startups such as Bengaluru-based Plazza, is integrating brick-and-mortar pharmacies into the digital supply chain, which allows them to reduce delivery timelines by fulfilling orders from neighbourhood locations instead of centralised hybrid model, however, comes at a steep cost of setting up physical outlets – each of which requires its own licences to retail drugs while complying with strict storage and handling norms under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Chemists urge govt to reconsider OTC drug rules
Ahmedabad: Two major chemist groups, the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists ( AIOCD ) and the Federation of Gujarat State Chemists and Druggists Association ( FGSCDA ), have asked the central govt to consult them before finalising the list of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that can be sold without a a letter to the Union health ministry, the two bodies demanded the withdrawal of a rule introduced during Covid-19 — GSR 220 (E) — which allowed home delivery of medicines. "This law is being misused by online channels and companies. Prescriptions and retail pharmacists are being bypassed, due to which medicines are being sold indiscriminately through online portals," the memorandum warn the move could lead to "inappropriate, unnecessary and uncontrolled use of drugs," the spread of "fake and substandard medicines," and a rise in antibiotic misuse with "long-term threats to public health."The groups, representing over 13 lakh chemists across India, welcomed the govt's decision to refer the issue to the digital technical advisory board (DTAB) but stressed the need to include retail chemists in any discussion, as they are key players in the country's medicine supply chain.
