Mangalore: The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), and South Kanara District Chemists and Druggists Association which represents all chemists and distributors of the state and across India, has written to the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the third time, appealing to revoke the notification G.S.R. 220 (E) issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This notification G.S.R. 220 (E) was published in March 2020 during the COVID pandemic, wherein movement restriction ware imposed, supply of medicines to the doorstep was allowed with some conditions, under Section 26B of the Drugs Act to regulate the manufacture, sale, and distribution of medicines. Under this, doorstep delivery of medicines was allowed and some rules, such as the requirement to stamp the prescription for the sale of medicines (Rule 65), were temporarily set aside only as a special circumstance.
AIOCD President Sri. JS Shinde and General Secretary Sri. Rajiv Singhal said that the main purpose of this notification was to deliver medicines in emergency situations through local chemists, but now it is being misused by Swiggy and other digital platforms to deliver medicines at home without following the necessary regulatory safety measures.
All these illegal platforms are selling medicines without a valid prescription, which is increasing serious problems like self-medication, drug abuse, and antimicrobial resistance. All such illegal platforms are focusing only on their profits by ignoring the safety of patients.
AIOCD and South Kanara District Chemists and Druggists Association has said that the original intention of this notification was to make the delivery of medicines in specific circumstances for valid licensed nearby chemists – not for online platforms to bypass important safety measures.
All these online platforms are ignoring the rules of drug delivery for their convenience, which can have a negative impact on the health of the public.
* AIOCD demands:*
• With the emergency phase of the pandemic is no longer exists and normalcy returned therefore notification is no longer relevant and should be withdrawn immediately.
• Strict adherence to prescription and other safety rules for the sale and distribution of medicines should be ensured.
• Illegal online sale of medicines in the country should be stopped with immediate effect so that unregulated sale of medicines can be stopped.
AIOCD and South Kanara District Chemists and Druggists Association believes that this step is necessary to maintain public health and safety. If the government does not act positively AIOCD and South Kanara District Chemists and Druggists Association shall be forced to launch agitation with all its 12.40 lakh members.
For South Kanara District Chemists and Druggists Association
President Secretary
Arun Kumar Shetty Dr. A.K. Jamal
