According to Sangai Express, Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association (MCDA) has pledged support to the Nation-wide general strike of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) to be imposed from 6 am to 6 pm on October 14.
The stir has been announced to oppose the move of Central Government to regularize selling of drugs/medicines on internet/web portal by amending Drug and Cosmetics Act. E-pharmacy, an inordinate practice of procuring drugs through online/internet, is a threat to public health, said an MCDA statement.
In another statement, AIOCD president JS Shinde said that sale of medicines through internet is illegal and it violates Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 (Rules 1945) adding that different forums including Drug Consultative Committee have observed that online sale of medicines does not fit in the present framework of law.
Despite all these facts, no action has been taken by regulatory authorities against gross violators so far, JS Shinde added. Online pharmacies can depreciate the drug distribution system in India and can increase the adverse drug reactions, misuse of drugs and drug dependence, irrational use of drugs and selling of poor quality of drugs, he added.
The pharma business is not like other business like FMCG, apparels, shows, mobiles, where the consumers have the liberty to choose any product or brand of their choice. The consumer is not aware of the effects and side effects of a drug, so the temptation of self medication without physical presence of pharmacist would lead to major side effects or misuse of drugs, he said.
Saying that if a prescription is sent via email to an e-pharmacy, there is no Government machinery to authenticate the prescriber, JS Shinde said that there is no central list of registered medical practitioners (RMPs) with the Government to ensure the authenticity of a prescriber.
Moreover, every State has a different policy regarding RMPs, he added. The Government does not have any authentic list of pharmaceutical manufacturers, he said and added that the Government neither has the list of pharmacists nor products as well.
Saying that there is no qualified doctor in rural areas of the country, JS Shinde said that in such areas, unqualified doctors would order or prescribe medicines through e-pharmacy if the system is legalised.
Quoting a recent news report published in a National daily, JS Shinde said that the rate of ordering pregnancy termination pills online is increasing in the country. Saying that online portals are registered under IT Act, he said that web portals claimed that they are service providers and they do not possess any drug licence.
However, many web portals promote sale of medicines without guaranteeing the quality of the medicines. Saying that the country has over 7.5 lakh retail pharmacists, JS Shinde said that their service would be totally eliminated if the new system of e-pharmacy is enforced.
However, the Government must not undermine the fact that many pharmacy related courses are being run in the country. Pharmacists are trained professionals who are experts in patient counselling, drug interactions, drug food interactions, doses, schedules, reactions and side effects etc, he said.