Soon, norms for selling medicines online

In the wake of the controversy over Snapdeal selling prescription drugs online, India's drug regulator is considering bringing out guidelines for selling medicines on e-commerce portals.

Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) G N Singh told Business Standard the rising growth of e-commerce in India couldn't be overlooked, adding the regulator was working on guidelines for companies in this segment to sell medicines online.

"We won't be lenient on people selling products other than OTC (over-the-counter) products online randomly," Singh said. The regulator had held discussions with members of regulatory teams in the European Union, as this problem persisted there, too, he said. E-commerce in India should be utilised well and freedom of selling medicines online shouldn't be abused, he added.

On Friday, Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Snapdeal chief executive Kunal Bahl and the company's directors at the Panvel police station in Raigad district. The FIR has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.

The matter pertained to sale of prescription drugs online. It followed the FDA searching Snapdeal's office in north Mumbai on April 16.

While OTC products can be sold without prescriptions, many e-commerce companies following the marketplace model are selling even prescription drugs online.

Though some online companies delivering medicines ask for prescriptions while confirming orders through their apps or websites, experts often doubt the accuracy of such a process.