New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare requested the Delhi High Court for an extension to develop a policy concerning the online sale of medicines. They cited the complexity of the issue and its potential wide-ranging impacts. In response, the High Court recently granted the Ministry four months to finalise the policy, warning further action by the court in case of failure.
This decision comes in response to various petitions before the court seeking to address the purportedly “illegal” online sale of drugs and contesting the proposed amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. The matter has been adjourned until July 8 for further deliberation, with the court previously requesting a status report from the government.
During a recent hearing, a representative from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighted the complexity of regulating online drug sales, noting that it would require amendments to multiple existing laws and regulations. The government called for careful consideration due to the significant implications involved.
One of the petitioners, the South Chemists and Distributors Association, has challenged the proposed rules, alleging that they are being pushed through without adequate regard for public health concerns associated with unregulated online medicine sales.
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