DCA conducts surprise checks on online pharmacies
Hyderabad, April 25 (INN): The officials of Drugs Control Administration on Saturday conducted surprise checks on the functioning of online pharmacies in Telangana State.
The checks were carried out at online pharmacies to detect violations of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945. The pharmacies which were checked includes, Medplus Mart (www.medplusmart.com); Apollo Pharmacy (www.apollopharmacy.in); Hetero Pharmacy (www.heteropharmacy.com); Snapdeal Online store (www.snapdeal.com); Bookmeds Medical (www.bookmeds.com); Healthkart.com (www.healthkart.com); BuyDrug (www.buydrug.in); Medstar (www.medstar.in) and Morchemist (www.morchemist.com).
According to DCA Director Dr. Akun Sabharwal, the Drugs & Cosmetics Act clearly mentions that any supply of drugs is to be made by the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist against the written prescription of a registered medical practitioner. Thus, Online Pharmacy practice stands on shaky legal ground and is prone to legal scrutiny.
Therefore, the staff of DCA, appearing as customers, ordered Schedule H & H1 drugs (Restricted Drugs like Alprax, Zolfresh, Augmentin, Cough Syrups, Tossex Syrup, Daonil, Restyl, Novomax, Aten etc.) without prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner online or through telephone. Three online pharmacies - Medplus Mart, Apollo Pharmacy and Bookmeds Medicals sold/delivered the above drugs without any prescription and failed to even ask for the same.
"This is transgressing the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 i.e., Section 18(c) r/w Rule 65 (4)(3)r/w Rule 65(3)(1)r/w Rule 65(9)(a) punishable under Section 27(d) of the Act," he said. They have been issued notices and instructed to stop forthwith the sale of all drugs online which amounts to the contravention of the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 and ensure proper procedures to rid their organization of the lacunae found during the Surprise Checks. Legal Action is being initiated against the above, he said.
News Posted: 25 April, 2015
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