Online pharmacies hope for breather from govt after contrary court orders

Claim no drop in sales despite HC orders; analysts want a cautious approach

Corporate bosses at e-pharmacies are hopeful that the Centre will issue regulations in two weeks to resolve the uncertainty in the sector, created by contrary orders from the high courts (HCs) of Delhi and Madras.  

On December 20, the Delhi HC extended a ban on the sale of medicines by e-pharmacies till January 8 next year. A Division Bench of the Madras HC on the same day overturned a single-judge Bench order that had banned the online sale of drugs and cosmetics.

"The Madras HC has ordered the central government to issue regulations on e-pharmacies by January 31. The