Indian regulator asks states to prevent online drug sales

A senior government official at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in India has reportedly claimed the CDSCO will ask all states to enforce a rule to prevent online medicines sales, according to Reuters.

The country has not finalised regulations for online pharmacies, despite several companies experiencing recent growth online, reports the outlet.

Last December, the Delhi High Court ordered the government to prohibit online sales of drugs in order to prevent patient medicine abuse. The current reminder to state authorities in the rest of India is to support this decision and stop all online sales for the time being. 

According to the outlet, online pharmacies can harm traditional business by providing steep discounts to customers. They can also encourage medicine abuse by allowing patients to order multiple medicines using one prescription.

However, the announcement has purportedly raised concern in the industry that online businesses will be negatively impacted.

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