Central govt working to finalise rules on online sale of medicines

The existing regulations have no provision for selling medicine through the online route

The Central government is working to finalise the rules on online sale of medicines after dilly-dallying on the issue for nearly two years. The urgency to notify the rules comes after conflicting observations from the Delhi and Madras High Courts (HCs).

The Drug Controller General of India will soon notify these rules, a senior official from the agency said. Though the agency has so far not received any complaint against such pharmacies, these e-shops remain unlicensed in the absence of rules, the official said.

While the Delhi HC, which banned online sale of medicines on December 12, extended its ban till January