digital health
E-PHARMACY: THE NEW AGE
MODEL OF MEDICINE DELIVERY
Provided these are regulated appropriately, experts believe that the rising number
of online pharmacies in India could prove to be the key to affordability and
accessibility of medicines
T
BY SACHIN ARYA
o synergize e-pharmacies with the overall
growing landscape of the country, this is the
right time for the government of India to
define policies and guidelines and come up with a
clear-cut operating model, in line with the
concerns of the regulator, while providing benefits
to the consumers.
Recently this fact was discussed during the launch of
a whitepaper titled ‘‘e-Pharmacy in India — Last
Mile Access of Medicines” in the presence of
government dignitaries and the concerned
stakeholders on July 25th, 2016 at, New Delhi. The
white paper from Frost and Sullivan – which
highlighted the need for improving access to quality
medicines to even the remotest part of the country
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BioVoiceNews | August 2016
in order to address the key challenges in India —
growing population, changing lifestyles, and
increasing health hazards. Frost & Sullivan prepared
the whitepaper post exhaustive research and
consultation with various stakeholders along with
inputs from FICCI.
The whitepaper was released by Mr K. B. Aggarwal,
Additional Secretary (Food and Drugs), and
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Mr Aggarwal
quoted that ‘’the suggestions of the whitepaper are
needed to be given due consideration, he added the
ePharmacy sector needs certain amendments in the
D&C Act and the Government would work towards
it. The Government is fully aware about the need of
having well worked out guidelines for the sector.