Centre establishing legal framework to regulate online sale of medicines

Under the proposed rules, individuals or companies will have to register with the central licensing authority to run an e-pharmacy

The government is putting in place a legal framework to regulate online sale of medicines.

On Saturday, the government released the draft rules allowing one-point registration for e-pharmacies and fixing procedures for sale. The draft provides for patient data protection. The details of patients cannot be shared with anyone except government authorities.

The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, governs sale of medicines in India. Medicines can be sold from licensed premises only. The Act does not cover e-pharmacies at present and the government had decided to appoint a sub-committee, after receiving complaints of violations. The draft released on Saturday is based on