The Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) is urging Karnataka drugs control department to provide clarity on whether retail drug licenses obtained as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules can do online sales and home delivery of medicines to customers.

This follows the recent advertisements by the Hyderabad-based MedPlus pharmacy retail chain which unveiled the ‘medplusmart.com' to make medicines delivery more customer centric via online pharmacy service.

In the wake of the cancellation of licenses of Medybiz and VLN Nirman Pharma in Bengaluru by the state drugs control department, the Association is worried over the developments. On the one hand, a particular state drugs control department has permitted the online pharmacy based on a mere retail license it issued for retail outlets. On the other hand, state drugs control department like Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka have terminated the permission for online pharmacy trade.

In a communication to the Karnataka drugs controller Raghurama Bhandary, dated May 5, 2015 via BDCDA/1925/15, the Association has expressed its concern on the recent publicity by the pharmacy chain MedPlus and asked the state regulator to provide clarity on the issue.

Karnataka has around 25,000 chemists and druggists doing retail and wholesale business. Out of this, Bengaluru represents under BDCDA accounts for 3,017 pharmacy outlets.

The supply of medicines by online dealers via an e mail or oral order is a violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules. The Telangana Drug Administration and FDA of Maharashtra have taken stringent actions on the dealers for violating the conditions of retail licenses in supply of medicines to the consumer, BDCDA stated in its communication.

In fact, MedPlus has commenced its publicity via print media and radio channels that it would supply medicines to patients to their residences with a mere request over phone or email. In addition, pharmacy chain is also offering drugs for lesser prices which gives a suspicion on the quality of medicines supplied by them, pointed out BDCDA.

“This is a serious issue and we need accurate information and therefore we have approached the Karnataka drugs controller,” Hari Krishnan, president,  Bangalore District Druggists and Chemists Association told Pharmabiz.

“We have now requested the state drugs control department to look into the issue immediately and undertake tests of the drugs sold online,” he added.

“Further, we have also asked the drugs control department to take serious note on the rotation of registered pharmacists which is a serious violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules,” said Krishnan.