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Time of India
03-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Panel to take a call on doorstep medicine delivery
New Delhi: The country's top advisory body on drugs has proposed to constitute a sub-committee to decide if people can continue to get medicines at their doorstep. The issue has come under scrutiny with the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which represents 1.24 million chemists and distributors, demanding withdrawal of a government notification that allows doorstep delivery of drugs. The government had allowed the facility in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The matter was taken up last week by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB). "The DTAB deliberated the issue and recommended to constitute a sub-committee to examine the matter in detail before considering withdrawal of the notification," according to the minutes of its meeting. The AIOCD had demanded withdrawal of the notification, alleging its misuse by digital platforms. After this, the health ministry asked the DTAB to give its recommendation. The March 2020 notification allowed doorstep delivery of medicines under certain conditions, such as the requirement to stamp the prescription for the sale of medicines. The AIOCD said the emergency phase of the pandemic no longer exists, therefore the notification is no longer relevant and should be revoked immediately. In a letter to union health minister JP Nadda early this year, the organisation highlighted what it termed "mounting concern regarding the continued misuse of this notification by various digital platforms", and said: "We fear with our past observations this practice of dispensing medicines without validated prescriptions appears to prioritise profit over patient welfare." The AIOCD said it failed to understand why the government was extending "undue privileges" to such platforms. "This leniency has sown the seeds of alarming possibilities, multiple dispensations on a single prescription, escalating the dependency and an upsurge in self-medication which can inflict irreversible harm," it said. India's online pharmacies currently operate in a regulatory grey area. Retail chemists' organisations have been protesting the sale of medicines through e-pharmacies since they are not regulated. The government has proposed legislation on multiple occasions but has yet to frame one. In 2018, the health ministry released a draft notification regulating e-pharmacies, proposing to ban the selling of medicines without registration. The draft also proposed a ban on the sale of narcotics, psychotropic drugs and tranquillisers by online pharmacies. But the rules could not be finalised.
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Business Standard
25-04-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Will doorstep medicine delivery end? Govt panel set to take a call soon
India's apex advisory body on drugs, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), is set to review whether the practice of delivering medicines to people's homes should continue. The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, which represents around 1.24 million chemists and distributors across the country, raised strong objections, according to a report by The Economic Times. The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has urged the government to revoke a notification issued in March 2020 that permitted doorstep delivery of medicines under certain conditions, including the stamping of prescriptions. This relaxation was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines for patients during lockdowns. However, the AIOCD claims the provision is now being misused by online platforms and is no longer necessary, the news report said. Allegations of misuse by digital platforms In a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, the AIOCD expressed concern over the continued application of the notification. 'We fear with our past observations this practice of dispensing medicines without validated prescriptions appears to prioritise profit over patient welfare,' the letter said. It also specifically named platforms such as Swiggy as allegedly misusing the provision. The Union health ministry has referred the matter to the DTAB, asking it to examine the issue and provide its recommendations. A decision is expected following deliberations at the board's upcoming meeting. 'No longer relevant', says AIOCD According to the AIOCD, the emergency situation created by the pandemic no longer exists, making the continuation of the notification unjustified. The organisation has called for its immediate withdrawal, citing growing misuse and potential risks to patient safety. Home delivery of medicines in India India's home delivery of medicines has seen rapid growth, especially propelled by the Covid-19 pandemic. During the 2020 nationwide lockdown, the Central government permitted doorstep delivery of essential medicines to ensure uninterrupted access for citizens. Retailers were allowed to deliver prescription drugs directly to homes, provided customers submitted valid prescriptions physically or via email. This move was crucial for those with chronic illnesses and mobility issues, and it helped maintain drug security during a period of severe restrictions. Delivery was managed by a combination of local pharmacies, government initiatives, and emerging online platforms. Today, several major players dominate the home medicine delivery sector. These include Netmeds, Tata 1MG, Medlife, Apollo Pharmacy, Myra Medicines, Farmako, Pharmacy Bazar, True Meds, MediBuddy, and Healthmug. Pincode launches 24-hour online delivery PhonePe's hyperlocal commerce platform, Pincode — launched ahead of its parent company's planned IPO — has introduced round-the-clock online medicine delivery in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune. The service includes both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Customers can place orders at any hour of the day, with delivery promised in just 10 minutes from the nearest participating pharmacy. Unlike other platforms that rely on dark stores, Pincode said it has partnered directly with local chemists to fulfill orders. This model is designed to ensure faster delivery times while also helping traditional neighbourhood pharmacies grow and stay competitive in the digital economy.
