The Bangalore District Chemists & Druggists Association (BDCDA) has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention on the issue of online sale of medicines over internet (e-pharmacy) which is expected to cause financial damages and hardships to the chemist fraternity.

In its communique via BDCDA/2009/15 dated September 22, 2015, the Association has asked the Prime Minister to intervene in this regard and do the needful in protecting the livelihood of chemists in the country by not allowing any amendment in the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and Rules regarding the online sales of medicines or the e-pharmacy format of business.

“We request to kindly give the necessary directions to the concerned ministries and departments on our suggestions submitted to the Drugs Consultative Committee for granting retail drug licenses taking into account of Rule 62b (2) and Rule 64(2) of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act & Rules in the interest of the general public for sale of quality medicines,” stated BDCDA president V Hari Krishnan, who is also the president of Karnataka Chemists & Druggists Association.

Earlier in August 25, 2015, the Association had communicated to the Dr GN Singh, Drugs Controller General of India, to include the Association name in the Drugs Consultative Committee meeting. The 48th DCC meeting held in New Delhi on July 24, 2015 has constituted a seven-member sub-committee to examine the issue of online pharmacy. “It is vital importance for the government to include the pharmacy trade while taking care of the risks and concerns related to such sales,” points out Krishnan.

In May 2015, the Association had questioned the regulators on whether online pharmacy and home delivery of drugs could be operational with an existing retail license.

In February, 2013, BDCDA had approached the Karnataka drugs control department and the DCGI to insist on consideration of amendments while granting fresh or new retail licenses. It called for the regulators to consider one chemist shop for a population of 5,000; registered pharmacist should be the proprietor or partner of the pharmacy outlet; and to accept only applications of registered pharmacists.

From an infrastructure point of view, BDCDA has pressed the regulators to ensure that pharmacy trade outlets needed to have a minimum 20 sq. m carpet area for a retail shop and 30 sq. m for wholesale outlets. The chemist outlets needed to ensure that there were no open racks in the retail sales shops. Further a retail outlet is to be located 200 metres away from each medical shop in the urban area and maintain a 100 metre distance in the rural areas. The height of the floor to roof and the front elevation should not be less than 4 metre each.

The regulator should ensure that licenses should not be granted to outlets located in the basement or cellars. The approach to pharmacy outlets should be user-friendly for handicapped and disabled persons to access. In addition, minimum size of refrigerator should be 230 to 280 litres and storage conditions in the premises to be considered accordingly.