Online sale of medicines is unstoppable , if we go by
following report appearing in Hindustan Times ( 21 Dec 2016 )
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Soon, all
medicines may be sold online
The drug committee, in its
report submitted to the health ministry, has said medicines could be sold
online, but with changes in several laws .
Currently, medicine sales are
banned online.
The report advises the government
to amend several acts, including the IT Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Narcotics
Act.
“The report does not deny the
possibility of medicine sale online. It just says several laws need to be
changed. Also, we need a flawless technical system to regulate sales and route
all e-pharmacies through a common platform,” GN Singh, Drug Controller General
of India, told HT.
The
number of weekly online shoppers have increased by 33% since last year, and the
number of daily online shoppers have become fourfold from 2013 to 2015.
The
government is working on a plan to support e-pharmacies with a strong
technology network. It is likely to test the model by allowing the sale of
limited prescription drugs in the first phase.
Singh
said most of the proposals that the state drug controllers submitted to the
government were in favour of the online sale of drugs.
However,
patient security still remains a concern.
The
government is also planning to tweak the Drugs and Cosmetics Act as there is no
clause on the online sale of medicines. “We need to amend several acts and they
need parliamentary approvals. This process could take a year or so,” Singh
said.
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But , will NDA
government cease this opportunity to herald an era of ,
COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTHCARE ECO-SYSTEM ?
I once again urge NDA government to consider
implementation of such a Eco System , based on my following blog / email , sent
to NDA ministers earlier :
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Health Care through Mobile ?
DNA ( 22 Nov 2016 ) carries a news
report , titled :
" Online e-pharmacy portals to make patients' lives
easier "
The details read :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The formation of a strict monitoring system for online sale of
medicines is underway by the Centre, that has come up with a
Self-regulation Code of Conduct for the E pharmacy sector for the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
and Industry ( FICCI ).
The e-pharmacy model proposed by the apex business organization provides,
* digital tracking and traceability of
medicines,
* addressing the problem of counterfeit medicines
* unsupervised consumption of antibiotics without prescription.
* improved access and
affordability of medicines for patients.
The e-pharmacy model has proposed that medicines must be
processed only against a valid copy of a prescription from a registered
medical practitioner.
E-pharmacy websites must also ensure no schedule X or other sensitive habit-forming medicines are processed and that there are adequate checks in place
to prevent sale of such drugs.
“We are working with private players to develop a centralized online system that involves manufacturers and supply chain managers to develop a fool-proof system for online sale of
medicines,” Drug Controller General of
India, Dr G N Singh said.
“Consumers need quality medicines at an affordable price.
Drugs and Cosmetics Act is the most poorly implemented — thus making consumers
vulnerable to counterfeit medicines and self-medication,” said Bejon Mishra, Founder at
Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) India.
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Congratulations , FICCI !
I am happy that you have taken cognizance of my following
suggestion , sent to you as an E Mail on 11 Oct 2015
I do hope , in course of time , you will succeed in
co-opting all the AGENCIES listed in my suggestion , to ensure for our citizens , a
world-class HEALTH CARE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Oct 2015
{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/10/3-d-digital-delivery-of-drugs.html
}
( let us call it , " Dispenser " )
On 14th Oct , 8 lakh pharmacy stores will go on strike to
persuade Government to prohibit sale of " Prescription Drugs " by
e-Pharmacies such as 1mg.com / Zigy.com , not to speak of e-Com sites
like Amazon / SnapDeal / Flipkart etc
Reason advanced :
* Online sale puts consumers at risk
Real reason ?
* Loss of jobs of 4 million persons employed by 800,000
pharmacy stores
* Loss of business worth Rs 80,000 Crores
Current legal provision :
* Drugs and Cosmetics Act,1940 does not prohibit online
sale of medicines
Govt response :
* Set up a Committee to draft new provisions in Law to
regulate online sale
My take :
* One day , everything will be sold online from web sites
10,000 Km away !
* There is no way march of EVERYTHING ONLINE can be stopped or slowed
My Suggestions :
* Govt to upload a Mobile App ( DISPENSER ? ) on Health Ministry web site
* All doctors must download it , after
proper registration / authentication
* App will get embedded with full details of that doctor
who uses it
* Doctors to enter Patient Data in App / then enter
prescribed Drug Details
* Doctor will SMS app data entered , to concerned
patient's mobile
* Patient will SMS entered app data to mobile of Chemist
of his choice
* Chemist will deliver the
medicine to the patient with Bill Details in App
* Chemist will deliver the
medicine to the patient with Bill Details in App
* Every action / transaction on
App , will get automatically emailed to web
Servers of
# Health Ministry
# All India Medical Association
# All India Organization of Chemists
and Druggists ( AIOCD )
# Drug Controller General of India
Advantages :
* Jobs / business of Chemists / Druggists saved
* Great convenience for patients / no need to visit
Drug Store
* No chance of Chemist " misinterpreting "
doctor's handwriting !
* Full History of
# Each Patient ( great benefit to Prescribing doctors )
# Each Drug
( great benefit to Pharma Companies )
# Each Chemist Shop ( great benefit to Govt / AIOCD / Tax Dept )
# Each Doctor
( great interest to All India Medical Association )
This is our chance , not only to deliver world-class healthcare
to millions but also to get rid of a huge amount ofUNETHICAL PRACTICES in , what is a HUMANITARIAN PROFESSION !
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25 Dec 2016
www.hemenparekh.in / blogs
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