Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

As a response to formulate a regulatory framework for the e-pharmacy sector, the Central Government told Delhi High Court that it is still considering the rules of e-pharmacy.

The news comes after the Delhi High Court, in February, asked the Central government to submit a status report on the e-pharmacy rules, at the earliest. The court also asked the e-pharmacy companies to submit their counter-affidavit within the next four weeks.

In a statement to the division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar, government’s standing counsel Kirtiman Singh said that steps have been taken to formulate the rules and the process of consideration is on.

Whereas, the companies informed the court, through the appeal, that they are not violating any rules or regulations under the act.

There are two types of online pharmacies, one acting as aggregators to connect registered pharmacists and the consumer and the other which have their own registered pharmacists, medicine stocks and sales licenses under existing regulations.

The rules being referred are draft e-pharmacy rules, which were notified in September 2018. The draft e-pharmacy rules note that those selling drugs and cosmetics online, have to obtain licences in the manner prescribed, within a period of two months from the date of notification.

The making of the rules for e-pharmacy startups came to the limelight when in October 2018, the Madras High Court announced a ban on the online sale of medicines. The same was followed by the Delhi High Court and by January 2019, the ban on e-pharmacies was stayed till a decision is announced in the matter.

Significantly, the hearing on May 9 was delayed to today (July 4) where considering the fact that the process of consultation was still on, the Delhi High Court adjourned the matter.

It also granted more time to the Centre to file its response to the contempt plea. The matter will be heard next on September 24.

On the other hand, India’s pharmaceutical industry, which was valued at $33 billion in 2017, is expected to expand at a CAGR of 22.4 per cent over 2015–20 to reach $55 billion.

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