Question : Sale of Medicines

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance that medicines are being sold online and offline without proper prescription by the doctors and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has inquired into the matter and if so, the outcome thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to revamp the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 for ensuring patient safety;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken in this regard; and

(e) the other steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to stop selling of medicines without proper prescriptions?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) & (b): Sale and distribution of drugs in the country are regulated as per the provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 and the Rules thereunder. In accordance with these Rules, drugs specified in Schedules H, H1 and X cannot be sold except on and in accordance with the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner from a licensed premise. Some instances of sale of medicines online have been reported in the media and wherever violation was noticed, remedial measures have been taken by State Licensing Authorities (SLA).

(c) & (d): The Government has taken a decision to prepare fresh legislation(s) for regulating the drugs, medical devices and cosmetics keeping in view the fact that the present legislation is of 1940, which has been amended a number of times.

(e): Adequate measures are already in existence to curb the practice of sale of medicines without prescription as detailed in reply to part (a) & (b) above.