By The Indian government is seeking legal opinion on a draft regulation that proposes to impose restrictions on the operation of e-pharmacies. The regulations aim to prevent online pharmacies from selling medicines online due to concerns about potential risks arising from data leaks of health records and the misuse of online pharmacies.
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has drawn up the draft rules, and the Tatas and Reliance Industries are among the prominent conglomerates that could be affected if the regulations are implemented. In 2021, Tata Digital, which houses the group’s digital assets, acquired a majority stake in 1MG. However, the Delhi High Court had asked the Centre to file a status report on petitions seeking a ban on the “illegal” sale of drugs online, and the court has been hearing petitions challenging the draft rules published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The petitioner, South Chemists and Distributors Association, challenged the ministry’s August 2018 notification and said the draft rules were being pushed through in serious violation of the law, ignoring the health hazards caused due to the sale of medicines online without proper regulations. The matter will be heard again on May 22 after the Centre’s counsel said more time was needed to consider the proposal to regulate e-pharmacies.