The Indian government is consulting with epharmacy companies such as PharmEasy, Tata 1mg, Flipkart, and Amazon India to understand the benefits and challenges of the online pharmacy sector. The companies have been asked to provide a formal presentation on their compliance status and the benefits of epharmacies to customers beyond just the discounts they offer. The government is seeking this consultation before bringing any new regulations into effect. In February, the Drug Controller General of India sent show-cause notices to 20 epharmacies, including Tata 1mg, Amazon, and Flipkart, for allegedly selling and distributing drugs in contravention of provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. In March, a Group of Ministers reportedly advocated for shutting down epharmacy platforms due to alleged malpractices, data privacy concerns, predatory pricing, and the sale of medicines without prescriptions. The government has also proposed a licensing regime for online pharmacies with the 2022 Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, but the regulations have not been finalized yet.
The revised draft of the Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill includes provisions for regulating the sale and distribution of drugs through online channels, including epharmacy companies. The government has the power to regulate and monitor the activities of these companies under this draft legislation. This version of the bill has replaced the earlier version that was released for public comments in July 2022.