Latest news with #Drugs&CosmeticsAct
New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Chemist body calls for scrutiny of e-pharmacy ops amid fake drug busts
NEW DELHI: Amid ongoing crackdowns on counterfeit drugs in the national capital, the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has voiced concerns over the unchecked operations of online pharmacy platforms. The association criticised the State Licensing Authority for its continued inaction in regulating and monitoring the functioning of these e-pharmacies. 'The online pharmacy platforms continue to sell medicines in violation of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, posing a serious threat to public health. Our association had formally highlighted the matter to the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare about the continued inaction by State Licensing Authorities (SLAs), despite repeated complaints being forwarded to them by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). While her reply in the Rajya Sabha on July 22 mentioned that complaints regarding unauthorised sale of medicines are referred to SLAs, no visible or effective action has been taken by the SLA on the ground,' the association said on Tuesday. In the absence of final regulation, e-pharmacy platforms continue to sell habit-forming and psychotropic drugs without prescription, schedule H, H1, and X medicines in violation of the law, untraceable, diverted, and unlicensed stock, and medicines without any quality assurance or physical verification, it added. Notably, the drug control department had earlier flagged the dubious role of online platforms in the sale of counterfeit cancer drugs whose network it busted last month. Rajiv Singhal, general secretary of the AIOCD, said the e-pharmacies are running without any checks and balances. 'Recently, a large swathe of counterfeit medicine was busted in Delhi, where the roles of these e-pharmacies also came under the scanner as distribution networks. They don't document the sale of Schedule H, H1, and X medicine, which are habit-forming, which is again against the law. So either the government should take action or force them to shut operations,' he said.
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
AIOCD demands strict action against illegal e-pharmacies; raises alarm over inaction by SLAs
The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists ( AIOCD ), representing over 12.40 lakh chemists across India, has expressed grave concern over the illegal and unregulated operation of online pharmacy platforms, which allegedly continue to sell medicines in violation of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, posing a serious threat to public health . Accoridng to a statement from AIOCD, JS Shinde, President, Rajiv Singhal, General Secretary, informed that in a formal communication addressed to the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, AIOCD has highlighted the continued inaction by State Licensing Authorities (SLAs), despite repeated complaints being forwarded to them by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation ( CDSCO ). Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Degree PGDM Operations Management MCA Data Science CXO healthcare MBA Technology Management Data Science Project Management Healthcare Cybersecurity Finance Data Analytics Leadership Design Thinking Others Artificial Intelligence others Digital Marketing Product Management Public Policy Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details While the Minister's reply in the Rajya Sabha on 22nd July 2025 stated that complaints regarding unauthorised sale of medicines are referred to SLAs, however, AIOCD has informed that no visible or effective action has been taken by any SLA across the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo To escalate this matter further, a high-level delegation of AIOCD met with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi, on July 21, and urged him to take the following urgent actions: Immediate crackdown on all illegal e-pharmacies operating without any valid license or oversight, including the Quick Commerce Players; Withdrawal of GSR 220(E), which was issued during the COVID-19 epidemic but is now being misused by these platforms to justify unlawful activities, and Withdrawal of GSR 817(E), the draft regulation issued in August 2018, which has remained in draft form for over eight years, enabling misuse due to lack of legal clarity, according to the statement. AIOCD has repeatedly submitted that GSR 817(E) is outdated and has failed to address the ground realities of digital drug distribution. Live Events JS Shinde, President, Rajiv Singhal, General Secretary, AIOCD, highlighted that the loosely drafted definition of 'Manufacturer' is the root cause of the issue and emphasised the need for a holistic and comprehensive approach involving all concerned departments, the statement said. AIOCD also expressed its readiness to provide suitable amendments to the Act, Rules, and relevant orders. AIOCD reiterated that medicines are not ordinary consumer goods, and their sale and distribution must not be left to automated platforms or unauthorized logistics chains. Continued inaction will lead to a public health disaster of irreversible scale. According to the statement, AIOCD demanded immediate withdrawal of GSR 817(E) and GSR 220(E) to prevent further legal misuse; Centralized enforcement action by CDSCO against all illegal online pharmacies; Action of all illegal E pharmacies on government directives must be initiated immediately by State SLA's . AIOCD appeals to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take urgent action in the interest of safeguarding public health and restoring trust in India's pharmaceutical regulatory system, the statement added.
