Seven-member committee to examine online drug sale issue

A seven-member committee has been formed to look into the the issue of online sale of drugs, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) has constituted a seven-member sub committee to examine the issue of the online sale of drugs, while taking care of the risks and concerns related to such sales, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

"All measures considered necessary for safeguarding the interests of consumers are being taken by the government", he added.

A number of representations have been received from chemists and druggist associations against the online sale of prescription drugs, the minister said.
 

Similarly a number of representations have also been received to permit such sales, he added.

Replying to another question, Ahir said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has constituted an expert core committee to review and recommend the revision of National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2011 in the context of contemporary knowledge of use of therapeutic products.

As per the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013, 680 medicines are currently under the NLEM.