Online sale of medicine permitted under present law: DIPP

The government on Tuesday has confirmed that online sale of medicines is legally permitted. The health ministry will bring in a clarification to resolve the issues between chemists and e-pharmacies.

The secretary of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion clarified that Drugs and Cosmetics Act does not prohibit online sale of medicines. 

DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek said there are about 50 e- pharmacies in the country.

"...but a clarity is required on this. So what the Ministry of Health is doing is (that they are) working on issuing some clarifications which will clarify that this is allowed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act," he told reporters.

He said this while briefing media with Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after meeting start-ups and incubators.