Delhi High Court Bans Sale of Online Medicines! Citizens dejected!!
The Delhi High Court has banned Sale of Online Medicines thus disappointing many citizens and bringing joy to off-line pharmacy. According to reports, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered a complete Ban on the Sale of online medicines by e-pharmacists across the country. The court has also directed the Centre and the Delhi state government to ensure that the order is implemented immediately.
The judgment has been issued in favor of the PIL filed by Delhi-based dermatologist Zaheer Ahmed. Ahmed complained that lakhs of medicines were being sold on the internet without much regulation, thereby posing a risk to patients and doctors alike. In addition, the plea pointed out that online sale of medicines is not permitted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Pharmacy Act, 1948. What’s more despite Drug Controller General of India in 2015 warning all state drug controllers to protect the interest of public health by restraining online sale, lakhs of medicines continue to be sold online, oftentimes ‘Without a valid Prescription of Doctors’!!!
Advocate Nakul Mehta, who has been appearing for the petitioner said, “As an interim measure, the court has stopped unauthorized sale of medicines on the Internet and the government has been asked to take necessary steps forthwith.”
However, citizens are angry by the decision. An angry Mr. Roshan Singh told Hello Mumbai, “Apart from price discounts and the comfort of shopping from home, Online Pharma has been a boost for those living in remote areas and consumers who are short of time and for whom reaching the pharmacy is difficult, ordering online has obvious been an advantage. He added, “If the same medicine is available at a lesser price online, then customers will buy it online than going to a pharmacy but with ban on on-line pharmacy people are disappointed.” – Edited by Mansoor Khan
