E-pharmacies

Regulatory woes torpedo PE/VC deals in e-pharma sector, shows data

Focus on profitability, and less options other reasons behind the slowdown seen till May this year

HC asks Centre to inform result of consultations to regulate e-pharmacies

The Delhi High Court has granted six weeks' time to the Centre to inform it about the outcome of consultations and deliberations with stakeholders on draft rules to regulate e-pharmacies. The court was hearing pleas seeking a ban on "illegal" sale of drugs online and challenging the draft rules published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to further amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad made it clear that pendency of these matters will not come in way of the Central government in taking action against persons who are violating the court's December 12, 2018 interim order putting a stay on the sale of drugs without licence by online pharmacies. On perusing the latest status report filed by the Centre, the court noted it has been categorically stated that the Union of India has not yet finalised the draft notification of August 2018 and it is pending for consultation and deliberations. The Union of

Govt to meet e-pharmacy firms soon to address regulations concerns

Senior government sources indicated that the government is in favour of e-prescription, but wants to tread cautiously when it comes to e-pharmacies, given the wider implications

Mandaviya to meet representatives of e-pharmacies soon, plan regulations

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will soon hold a meeting with the representatives of e-pharmacies that are on government radar over several concerns, including data privacy and irrational use of prescription drugs, official sources said on Wednesday. They said the unrestrained and irrational use of prescription drugs by these e-pharmacies and maintaining the privacy of a patient's data are major areas of concern for them. These pharmacies collect the data on consumption of drugs area-wise, which increases the risks for patient safety, the sources explained. The Union Health Ministry is already mulling regulations and stringent actions on e-pharmacies. The revised draft of the New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023, which has been sent for inter-ministerial consultation, mentions, "The central government may, regulate, restrict or prohibit the sale or distribution of any drug by online mode, by notification." The draft bill was put in the public domain in July l

Online pharmacies suffer without regulatory prescriptions in India

The absence of a legal framework governing this fast-growing segment of the pharma retailing business is causing confusion in the industry

India's drug regulator serves show-cause notice to online pharmacies

Gives firms two days to respond to allegations that they flouted rules

Udaan to provide medicine delivery to pharmacies every 4-hour

As part of the new service offering, Udaan will provide medicine delivery to pharmacies every 4-hour with 4 delivery slot options in a day to order medicines across six cities

Online pharmacy platform Tata 1mg turns unicorn after raising $40 mn

Funding round was led by Tata Digital; Tata 1mg has become 105th unicorn in India

Draft Bill 2022 seeks to regulate e-pharmacies and medical devices

Centre also proposes to have an expert group on medical devices

Govt moots regulation of e-pharmacies, trial mishap penalties in new bill

Also, for the first time, regulations for conduct of clinical trials for new drugs and medical devices have been brought under the draft New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2022

Two Cipla promoters sell 20 mn shares; promoter group now holds 34.23%

Chairman Y K Hamied and Vice Chairman MK Hamied, who are non-executive directors and promoters, have sold 2,01,69,756 shares on Tuesday

After e-commerce, CCI looks at pharma sector to unlock competition

Will study the role of trade associations and e-pharmacies in supply chain and whether they're distorting competition

E-pharmacies urge govt to notify e-pharmacy rules vital to health Mission

Online pharmacies on Thursday said they have requested the government to notify the final e-pharmacy rules. A vibrant e-pharmacy remains a vital cog in the implementation of the National Digital Health Mission, association of Indian internet pharmacies Digital Health Platforms said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It is our sincere request that the government notify the final e-pharmacy rules," the association added. Draft e-Pharmacy Rules are in addition to, and not in substitution of, the existing legal framework of the IT act and DC (Drugs and Cosmetics) Act and Rules, which the existing e-pharmacies are fully compliant with, the letter said. Therefore, the registration of e-pharmacies under the proposed Draft Rules is over and above the existing relevant Act and Rules, it added. "A vibrant e-Pharmacy sector continues to be a key element in successfully implementing the National Digital Health Mission, and governmental support and motivation to the sector is critic

Chemist body AIOCD writes to Jeff Bezos, says e-pharmacies are 'illegal'

The top body of chemists and druggists has shot off a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the world's largest online retailer entering the online pharmacy space in India, saying e-pharmacies are "illegal" and not allowed under the country's laws. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which claims to represent 8.5 lakh chemists, on August 14 wrote to Bezos and his India CEO Amit Agarwal saying the online pharmacy space "has been marred by extreme controversies, court cases, and legal issues in last few years." "We are writing to you as we came to know that www.amazon.in has decided to enter 'online pharmacy' space, probably oblivious to the fact that e-pharmacies are illegal and not recognised by the laws under Drug and Cosmetic Act & Rules thereunder," it wrote. Earlier this month, Amazon launched an online pharmacy in Bengaluru. Amazon Pharmacy has started accepting orders for both over-the-counter and prescription-based medicines and is also selling ...

Medlife, PharmEasy agree to merge; deal may be valued at over $1 bn

The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of 100 per cent equity shares of Medlife by API Holdings, the parent of PharmEasy, in return for 19.59 per cent equity share capital

Amazon enters online pharmacy space in India; to compete with Netmeds, 1mg

The service would allow customers to order prescription-based medication in addition to over-the-counter medicines, basic health devices and Ayurveda medication from certified sellers

Govt suspends website promoting e-pharmas on Aarogya Setu after HC order

In view of the Centre's stand, Justice Navin Chawla disposed of the petition filed by South Chemists and Distributors Association

Digital payments and the pandemic

Decline in payments volume to the airlines, railways or hospitality industry could have affected digital payments adversely

E-pharmacies ramp up hiring as orders grow two-fold amid Covid-19 lockdown

Gurugram-based 1mg, for example, is looking to immediately hire 500 people and another 1,000 over the next 2-3 months

Online pharmacies on hiring mode as orders during Covid-19 lockdown

Most e-pharmacies are operating with minimal staff and are not able to fulfill customer orders