The All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has raised serious concerns over a possible tie-up between Swiggy’s grocery arm Instamart and e-pharmacy giant PharmEasy, which aims to deliver medicines within 10 minutes through dark stores.
In a letter to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), AIOCD warned that the rapid delivery model could potentially violate Indian drug regulations and pose health and safety risks to the public.
AIOCD chairman JS Shinde and secretary general Rajiv Singhal cited key issues with the partnership, stating that the model could bypass key regulatory controls necessary for patient safety. They emphasized that drug distribution in India involves strict protocols, such as prescription verification and patient identification, to avoid harm to consumers. They expressed concern that these safety measures could be compromised by the ultra-fast delivery time.
“This partnership is likely to ignore important standards such as proper verification of prescriptions and patient identification, which could endanger the health of ordinary citizens,” the association said.
The association also noted the broader implications for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing public health problem in the country. According to AIOCD, the “unregulated” activities of e-pharmacies such as PharmEasy could undermine government efforts to combat AMR, potentially worsening the problem due to the uncontrolled distribution of antibiotics.
Additionally, AIOCD questioned the reputational and legal risks associated with PharmEasy, which has faced regulatory scrutiny in the past. The partnership with Swiggy, they argued, could expose both companies to further legal complications.
Another concern was the potential risk to drug quality with the rapid delivery model, which could increase the risk of distribution of expired or counterfeit drugs. AIOCD emphasized that ensuring quality and safe distribution of medicines within such short timescales can be difficult and may not meet industry standards.
“The ultra-fast delivery model can increase the likelihood of expired or counterfeit medications, which is detrimental to patient safety. In such a model it is not possible to meet the required quality standards,” the association said.
AIOCD urged the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to thoroughly review this partnership, underscoring their commitment to the role of traditional chemists in the safe delivery of medicines. The association asserted that it would continue to oppose any initiative that could endanger public health and safety.
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