Health Ministry today clarified that it has not taken any decision to allow online sale of medicines. Clarification came after at a telephonic conversation, Union Health Minister J P Nadda had with the President of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, regarding their call for countrywide strike tomorrow against the alleged efforts to allow sale of medicines through internet. Mr Nadda informed that government will take views of all stakeholders whenever it takes any decision in this regard.
The All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) has called a nationwide chemists’ strike from Wednesday demanding action from the Centre against “illegal” online sale of medicines.
“We have decided to go for nationwide strike on October 14 to protect health of general public as well as interest of our 8.5 lakh chemists in 30 states,” AIOCD President J S Shinde said in a statemnt
“We may resort to indefinite strike, if the Centre fails to resolve the issue immediately,” he said.
The AIOCD President said we strongly oppose the government’s move to regularise sale of medicines through internet that is ‘e-Pharmacy’ in larger public interest.
However, Mr Shinde claimed it was illegal to sell medicines on internet under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.