With an aim to take on e-pharmacies which are eating into their business, the Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association (MSCDA), a regional branch of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists Association (AIOCD) has tied up with Medipta Solutions, an online tool aggregating all retail chemists to reach patients in 20 minutes over digital prescription.

The mobile based application, Medipta available on android platform, was launched by Maharashtra minister of state for food and drug administration in Mumbai on March 19, 2018 in the presence of AIOCD president JS Shinde and Rahul Bojwalwar, chief executive officer of Medipta Solutions.

The application is free for patients but chemists have to pay administration fee for it. They will have to pay Rs. 4,400 for first year, Rs. 2,100 for second year and Rs. 1,800 for third year. It will become free for them from fourth year.

Medipta Solutions which took around two years to develop the app had conducted a pilot with 100 chemists before the launch. Patients requiring drugs need to upload image of the prescription handed over by the doctor on Medipta app. The prescription will be approved by experts and nearby chemists who will be intimated about this can supply drugs to the patients.

Talking about collaboration with MSCDA, Bojwalwar said, “We are planning to reach out to all chemists in the country and AIOCD representing 8.5 lakh chemists, the biggest chemists' association is of great help to us in this regard. We have initially collaborated with its Maharashtra unit, MSCDA and are going to gradually reach out to chemists pan India with the help of AIOCD. Maharashtra has 72,000 chemists. Of them, 15,000 chemists are in Mumbai. With the tie up with MSCDA we hope to get all of them on board.”

Shinde praised Medipta app for empowering chemists to take on e-pharmacies.

With the internet pharmacies coming up in a big a way in the country, retail chemists are facing the risk of losing business. The online pharmacies have garnered around 4 per cent of one lakh crore domestic drug market. With the central government set to make rules to facilitate operation of online pharmacies, the brick and mortar drug stores are left with no option but to prepare themselves to remain in business.

Collaboration with Medipta Solutions is a step in this regard. In collaboration with Medipta, chemists will become as organised force to strengthen present pharmacy retail chain. Through this collaboration, not only stockists can supply medicines to chemists as per necessity, but chemists can also supply medicines to patients, doctors and maintain records of prescription. Chemists and druggists can get advantage of stock inventory information on this app. Chemists can get reminder if medicines not delivered to patients on time, said JS Shinde.

When asked about dilution of AIOCD's stand against online pharmacies with the adoption of online tool aggregating chemists, Shinde said “We are not against government's decision to make regulation to facilitate online sale of drugs but it should be done after addressing issues such as lack of adequate digital infrastructure, misuse of narcotics and habit forming drugs and ensuring quality drugs reach to people.”

“Government is looking into technical aspects related to creating an online platform to be able to facilitate online sale of medicines in a transparent and regulated manner. The sole intention is to make best use of information technology for such kind of online systems,” says former Drug Controller General of India Dr G N Singh.

The online portal system which is currently being developed by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in consultation with Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Law Ministry and Commerce Ministry will involve manufacturers and supply chain managers.

Besides chemists, Medipta also connects patients, doctors, diagnostic labs, ambulance, hospitals, blood banks, medical device firms, insurance companies. Through the app, users can search for the above healthcare stakeholders and avail their services. Based on a cloud fed model, Medipta App helps users to maintain complete and organised records of your medical history like previous prescriptions, doctor consultation summary, diagnostic reports, date & nature of illness, allergies to particular medication, etc.