Amazon India has now ventured into the online pharmacy business. The e-commerce company has launched the online pharmacy service in Bengaluru and may also conduct trials in other cities.
According to reports, an Amazon India spokesperson said, “As a part of our commitment to fulfilling the needs of customers, we are launching Amazon Pharmacy in Bengaluru allowing customers to order prescription-based medication in addition to over-the-counter medicines, basic health devices and Ayurveda medication from certified sellers. This is particularly relevant in present times as it will help customers meet their essential needs while staying safe at home.”
But, this online pharmacy has met with severe backlash. All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), consisting of more than 850,000 members across the country, has written a letter to Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos and Amit Agarwal, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of Amazon India, calling the online pharmacy business illegal.
The letter has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, secretaries and other government officials too.
Under India’s drug regulations, it is compulsory for retailers to have a license for the distribution of medicines from the state in which they are being sold.
Also Read: Find Out What Mukesh Ambani Has Been Up To In Lockdown In This Week’s Fake Friendly Friday
AIOCD President JS Shinde and General Secretary Rajiv Singhal in the four-paged letter allege that the move was illegal. They state that the government has allowed doorstep delivery of medicines, only to individuals who are license holders.
The letter said, “We also have a full dossier ready on this subject and entering this space can bring on legal implications which can bring disrepute to Amazon’s name.”
“The sale and dispensation of medicines in India are covered under the D&C Act 1940 and Rules 1945. The above-said act regulates the import, manufacture and distribution of drugs whereas the rules contain a classification of drugs and guidelines for storage, display, sale and prescription of each schedule,”
“The mainstay of the rules under this Act is on prescription and procedure of dispensation. A prescription, in original, is required for every “prescription drug” being sold. The Rules also specify that the prescription for certain drugs needs to be endorsed while sale. Further, the dispensation has to take place from a licensed premise for which the license has been issued by the competent authority.”
Other online healthcare firms like Practo, 1mg, Medlife, PharmEasy, Netmeds are already facing contempt of court proceedings under the Indian laws.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced customers to shift towards online treatment, medical tests and medicine delivery.
Murali Neelakantan, former global general counsel of Cipla and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals commented that “Every seller on the marketplace would be required to have a retail licence under India’s regulations for drugs and cosmetics. There is nothing in the law that requires a marketplace to have a licence to facilitate the sale.”
Amazon is yet to disclose how they are planning to tie up with sellers for this exercise.
Image Source: Google Images
Sources: Pharmabiz, The Indian Express, Livemint
Find Blogger: @aditi_21gupta
This post is tagged under: amazon, AmazonIndia, pharmacy, online business, e-commerce, multinational cooperation, local retailers, shop local, medicines, pharmaceuticals, Jeff Bezos, AIOCD, illegal, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, licence, Bengaluru, Indian laws, Practo, 1mg, Medlife, PharmEasy, Netmeds, covid19, pandemic, coronavirus pandemic, Ciplaand Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, illegal practice, license holders, amit aggarwal, cant sell without license, All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists
