Call to ban online sale of medicines

Chennai: Following Karnataka and Maharashtra high courts’ orders that online sale of medicines in the states is illegal, pharmacists’ associations in Tamil Nadu are demanding the same.

“We have been protesting against the online sale of drugs in the state for a long time.  Since two high courts have already given the verdict stating it is illegal, why can’t the drug control department of Tamil Nadu take a similar stand?” questioned Natarajan Thaneermalai, general secretary, Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association.

With online pharmacies having laid a bait of large discounts, to lure customers, the scope of complaints from the public is seen as low, creating a sense of fear among retailers. “Consumers go online to purchase medicines only because of the benefit of discount, without which, people wouldn’t be willing to take the risk,” said Natarajan, adding, “There is no guarantee that it is stored right or has the correct combination of chemicals. Certain medicines, if not stored in the right temperature, will lose at least 50 per cent of their potency.”

Despite Tamil Nadu being far ahead of other states in terms of inspections, curbing online sale of drugs has a long way to go. With the public slowly switching to this mode of purchase, banning the same is becoming all the more difficult. “We haven’t seen any change on the part of the government with regard to the same. We are planning to go on an indefinite strike next month,” Natarajan said.

Questioning the safety of purchasing medicines  online, S. Kasi, general secretary, Doctors’ Forum for Public Health, said, “Out of experience, a doctor may prescribe a medicine of a particular brand. However, a consumer may purchase the same medicine online  from a different brand. All brands are not equal in action there being some amount of difference in quality and composition between each.”

Opposing the sale of drugs online, Nirmala Desikan of CONCERT (Centre for Consumer Education, Research, Teaching, Training and Testing) said, “The consumer will not have the benefit of an assessment by his physician when purchasing a medicine online. Where does he turn to if he has a complaint against the drug? There are a lot of practical problems that can arise as a result.”
 Despite the dangers of the online sale of  drugs  being obvious, patients feel that the dangers are very much present in pharmacies as well. “How are the retailers any different? They sell  drugs  Over the Counter (OTC) on a regular basis and continue to do so, despite there being a law against it,” said Madhav R., a teacher.