Illegal Medicines: Detriments to Health and Economy

 


Introduction:

The Indian pharma industry is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in India and at present one of the major contributors to the national GDP. In the UNGA 2020, PM Narendra Modi announced that India is the largest supplier of vaccines in the world and the pharma sector in India is not only capable of fulfilling the domestic needs but can also meet the international demands and standards. The pharmaceutical industry in India is currently generates a yearly revenue of 30 billion US dollars and will soon reach to around 60 billion US dollars by the end of 2023 as suggested by economic experts.

The Global Perspective:

The biggest problem that the Indian pharma is dealing with is the manufacture and supply of illegal medicines around the country. This not only affects the health and well-being of the people but also impacts the Indian economy. Time and again, the Indian pharmaceutical industry have been blamed by the western media of not maintaining the international medical standards. The biggest accusation being that Indian medicines are marketed and sold without completing proper clinical trials. Banned medicines such as Nimesulide, Rofecoxib, Phenyl propanamine, etc sale of which is already stopped in countries like Bangladesh are still being marketed in India according to the US FDA.


Online Offline Rivalry:


In past few decades, India has experienced an Internet revolution. Reduced call rates and free internet have given people freedom to explore and exploit the internet. People can now fulfill all their requirements at the click of a button. India has adopted the smartphone culture and to access the internet one does not need to rely on computers. Now people can choose from a variety of products available online. The internet revolution has given a massive platform for e-commerce to set roots and grow in the Indian market. Many pharma companies are doing business online. This transition has helped many companies cement their place in the market and earn more profit at low investments. However, this transition has not been taken kindly by the brick-and-mortar pharmacies. The retail pharmacies blame the online pharmacies of taking a big chunk from their clientele reducing their profit share in the pharma business. They have also blamed that online pharmacies do not adhere to the medical rules and regulations, which are very strict for the retail pharmacies. Online pharmacies have been blamed of selling prescription medicines to the consumers without proper documentation. Also, the rules for online pharmacies in India are either archaic or defunct in the modern times.


Drug Regulation in India:


Information Technology Act of 2000, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules of 1945, the Pharmacy Act of 1948, etc are some of the rules that are present in India. But most of them were written in a time when internet was not prevalent in India. In 2018, the Indian government released a draft rule stating that online pharmacies cannot sell medicines to the customers without a proper prescription.
However, the rule was not very effective and riddled with loopholes.

Indian Online Pharmacies:

Many pharma companies are doing online business are providing their services online.  3MEDs a Delhi-based online pharmacy app, which is owned and operated by "Nitsa Advisor" is a good example of this transition. Launched in 2020, it has been declared as the no. 1 onlinepharmacy app in India. The customers in Delhi can now buy medicines from the comfort of their homes. 3MEDs has been known to abide by the government regulations and it has made it mandatory for the customers that prescription medicines will only be provided with a proper prescription.

Conclusion:

Although it is not illegal to buy medicines online in India, there are certain guidelines that must be followed both by the pharma companies as well as the customers. The drug regulations and rules in India require amends which are not only timely but also relevant as per the current medical industrial scenario in the country. Most important is the education of customers. Buying medicine illegally does not only cheats them of their money but also puts them in the harm’s way.

Keywords: Pharmacy app, no. 1 online pharmacy app in India

 

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