Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi N.V.N. Somu has urged the union government to stop the use of online delivery companies from supplying medicines. Dr. Kanimozhi said the rapid delivery of medicines which was proposed to be launched in Karnataka (10-minute medicine delivery by a food delivery company) violated the Indian drug regulations and posed health and safety risks to the public.
She pointed out that the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) had raised the issue “about potential collaboration between Swiggy’s grocery arm Instamart and e-pharmacy giant PharmEasy, which aims to deliver medicines within 10 minutes through dark stores”.
Dr. Kanimozhi termed it “a dangerous model that might bypass essential regulatory checks necessary for patient safety”. There were strict protocols such as verification of prescription and patient identification before distribution and supply of medicines, she said.
“In this case, there is an apprehension that these safety measures could be compromised under the ultra-fast delivery timeline. AIOCD has also questioned the reputational and legal risks associated with PharmEasy, which has faced regulatory scrutiny in the past,” she pointed out.
The ultra-fast delivery model could increase the possibility of expired or counterfeit medicines, harming the patients besides the issue of adhering to quality standards.
Published – December 04, 2024 07:31 pm IST