State to come down heavily on illegal sale of drugs online

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government is gearing up to take strict action against unauthorized sale of medicines through online platforms. Health minister K K Shailaja said the government was committed to putting the breaks on such dangerous and unauthorized sales of drugs.
The support and cooperation of the Union government was essential to ebb out the unhealthy tendency reportedly taking roots in the state, she said.
“The state government alone could not clamp total restrictions on the online sale of medicines. In 2019, the state drugs control department had issued a blanket ban against international drug major Medlife International that had been selling medicines across the state via online platform. Now, it has come to our notice that the activities of the company and similar ones are still prevalent in the state. Despite the limitations, the state government is putting serious efforts to eliminate the online drug sale to a possible extent. The practice of taking medicines unrestrictedly, not based on any authentic prescriptions from registered medical practitioners could be mortally harmful. All concerned should keep a vigil against such tendencies. The public should also be aware of the same,” the minister said.
As per the Drugs And Cosmetics Act 1940, Drugs And Cosmetics Rules 1945, online sale of medicine is not permissible. However, following media reports regarding rampant online sales of drugs, the department had carried out widespread investigations. “It has come to the fore that all the companies and agencies that are engaged in online sale of drugs are operating from outside Kerala. Often, they provide drugs without any valid prescriptions. The drugs controller had intimated his counterparts in those states from where the drug sales companies operate. However, requests for action against the companies did not elicit any positive result,” she said.
Unrestricted use of allopathy medicines, especially antibiotics, sleeping pills, medicines for mental illnesses and sexual stimulants are highly dangerous.
Over-the-counter sale of such medicines are effectively restricted and monitored by the state drugs control department. However, the menace could be effectively curbed only if the Union government takes steps to carry out changes in the laws concerned, making the unbridled online sale of drugs a criminal offence.