Are Online Pharmacies Regulated?

Online pharmacies have transformed access to healthcare by allowing patients to order medicines from the comfort of their homes. However, since medicines can pose health risks if misused, the regulation of e-pharmacies is essential. In India and many other countries, the sale of drugs via digital platforms is subject to strict laws to ensure patient safety, proper dispensing, and ethical business practices.

Regulatory Framework Governing Online Pharmacies

1. Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

This is the primary law regulating the manufacture, sale, and distribution of medicines in India. Online pharmacies must comply with the same provisions as offline chemists, including:

• Sale of prescription drugs only against valid prescriptions
• Storage conditions for temperature-sensitive drugs
• Sale only by licensed pharmacists

2. Pharmacy Act, 1948

Only registered pharmacists are allowed to dispense medicines. Online pharmacies must have certified pharmacists who review prescriptions before dispatching orders.

3. Information Technology Act, 2000

Online platforms handling sensitive health data must ensure data security and privacy under the IT Act and adhere to cybersecurity standards.

4. Proposed E-Pharmacy Rules (Draft 2018)

While final rules are pending, the Ministry of Health has proposed a framework that includes:

• Mandatory registration with a central authority
• Uploading of valid prescriptions before dispensing
• Real-time inventory management
• Maintaining a 24x7 customer support and grievance mechanism
• Restriction on selling Schedule X drugs (narcotics/psychotropics)

5. Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020

Doctors prescribing medications via online consultation must follow telemedicine norms issued by the Medical Council of India, ensuring that prescriptions are valid and verifiable.

Platform-Specific Requirements and Compliance

Platforms like 1mg, Netmeds, Pharmeasy must tie up with licensed pharmacies to process orders.

They must clearly display drug categories (prescription vs OTC).

Customer identity and prescription details must be verified before dispatch.

No advertising or promotion of Schedule H or prescription-only drugs is allowed.

Key Safety and Ethical Measures

Prescription Verification

Medicines marked Rx should only be sold against a doctor's prescription. Forged or reused prescriptions are punishable.

Controlled Substances Prohibition

Sale of narcotic and habit-forming drugs is heavily restricted and often prohibited online.

Delivery Chain Integrity

Drugs should be delivered in tamper-proof packaging, and temperature-sensitive medicines must follow cold chain logistics.

Record Keeping

Pharmacies must maintain detailed records of sales, prescriptions, and invoices for audit and legal inspection.

Penalties for Violations

• Up to ₹5 lakhs fine for selling drugs without prescription
• Cancellation of pharmacy license
• Legal action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act
• Blocking of non-compliant websites by authorities

Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

• Right to receive genuine, unexpired medicines
• Right to ask for pharmacist verification and prescription review
• Responsibility to upload a valid prescription and not misuse medicines
• Report illegal sales to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)

Example

A customer orders antibiotics from an online pharmacy without uploading a valid prescription. The platform delivers the medicine without verification. Later, during a regulatory audit, the pharmacy is penalized.

Correct Steps the Platform Should Have Taken:

• Ask the customer to upload a valid doctor’s prescription
• Have the in-house pharmacist verify the prescription
• Match the drug and dosage to the prescription
• Refuse the order if no prescription is provided
• Maintain a secure database of transaction and prescription records
• Report suspicious or forged prescriptions to authorities