Govt plans to set up e-portal to regulate sale of 

medicines

Rupali Mukherjee

Mumbai





In order to ensure that drugs meet quality standards, the Union health ministry could create a digital platform to track and regulate their sale in the country .

A notice posted on the ministry's website announced that the move is aimed at making the entire trade channel, from manufacturers to wholesalersretailers to the patients, including e-pharmacies, more transparent. This “track and trace“ mechanism could also curb anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and regulate supply of medicines through the internet to persons or entities in and outside India. Currently , barcoding on medicine packs is done only for exports. A recent survey had revealed that around 3% of the drugs sold in India are substandard.

According to the notice, all drug manufacturers would be required to register themselves with the portal, and enter data relating to sale with details of batch number, quantity supplied and expiry date. All stockistswholesalers will also be required to register and enter details of stocks received and supplied by them to further distributors or retailers.

The data could be entered online or through mobile phones and pharmacies located in remote areas will have the option to upload the data once every fortnight. The notice further adds that medicines will be dispensed only against a prescription of a registered medical practitioner, with the doctor's registration number (MCI state medical council. The government is expected to finalise the guidelines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 by April 15.

“As regards the implication of cost for companies, we are awaiting the details of the proposed guidelines,“ A Vaidheesh, MD GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals & VP South Asia, told TOI.