Easy access to habit-forming drugs online and the lack of regulations to curb such illegal sale continue to pose a challenge for the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department.
Since January 1, 2025 (in a span of 48 days), the department has cancelled 17 retail and wholesale licences over the sale of habit-forming drugs. However, online pharmacy platforms remain beyond the bounds due to the lack of regulations.
Director of Drugs Control Administration, Tamil Nadu, M.N. Sridhar said that checks on the sale of habit-forming drugs were stepped up in the State.
“Whenever the police department seizes such drugs, we are informed about it, and if the medicines were purchased from a wholesale or retail dealer, we initiate immediate action; show-cause notices are issued, licences are cancelled, and the premises are sealed. However, most of the habit-forming drugs are procured from online pharmacies, which pose a challenge,” he said.
Among the drugs that are commonly misused are Tapentadol tablets (painkillers used mostly during the post-operative period) and Tramadol tablets (used in the treatment of arthritis). Painkillers prescribed for patients in the post-surgery period and antidepressants are also purchased online and misused, he said.
“Most of the supplies are from Gujarat, Bihar, and Maharashtra. We wrote letters to the Drugs Controllers of the respective States, but we have not received a reply so far. We also wrote to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), but there has been no reply. A special legislation is the need of the hour. Online sale of medicines should be through prescriptions that are monitored,” Mr. Sridhar said.
In November, the State’s Health Secretary wrote to the DCGI, raising concerns about the availability of certain habit-forming drugs on e-commerce platforms.
S.A. Ramesh, president of Tamil Nadu Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association, said the several representations they made to the Union Health Ministry to curb the sale of medicines online were to no avail.
“Medicines are not a commodity. Sale of medicines on e-commerce platforms is basically a violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which outlines the role of a qualified pharmacist. A prescription from a doctor should be honoured by a qualified pharmacist, who should dispense the medicine after explaining its usage, efficacy, and side effects. Where is the role of a pharmacist on an e-commerce platform?” he questioned.
People have been purchasing painkillers and sleeping pills from e-commerce platforms, he said, adding: “What if something goes wrong when such drugs are purchased online and delivered from other States? How can the dealers be traced and penalised? Lack of regulations is a setback, and we have been reiterating the need to curb the sale of medicines online, but the Central government is not taking any action.”
Published - February 18, 2025 12:48 am IST
