The proliferation of the sale of steroids and prescription drugs over online platforms is turning out to be a major headache to the drug control authorities.
There is no regulatory mechanism to keep a tab on the soaring e-commerce transactions, but the authorities act as and when they receive specific information.
“Mobile apps like the ones of popular food aggregators are now available for purchase of steroids. Dealings over such apps and portals are not approved and controlled by the Drugs Control Department, nor can we vouch for their quality. Mass raids seem to be the only option to control them,” Saju John, Assistant Drugs Controller, Ernakulam Region, told The Hindu .
The lack of Information Technology prowess among drug control officials does not help in checking online deals either.
According to Rule 65 (11) (c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, every licensed retail drug dealer has to seal his name, address, and date on the original prescription on the sale of every prescription drug to avoid the abuse of such drugs, which obviously is not done in the case of online sale.
E-pharmacy
Mr. John feels that the introduction of e-pharmacy, being planned by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, the national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices, may improve the state of affairs.
The concept, which is in the draft stage, lays down various criteria like what can be sold under it and by whom and the fee thereof, he said.
Unbilled transactions in steroids leave the drug control authorities in the dark about the very existence of such shady deals unless there are specific tip-offs.
“Only licensed drug dealers are permitted to deal in steroids. We have the entire data of our licensed drug dealers, and the sale of steroids by them can be tracked. This is not the case with unbilled transactions where the buyer personally takes delivery of the stuff from source or even get them couriered,” Mr. John said.
He, however, insisted that bulk purchase of steroids in such an unaccounted manner was unlikely through medical shops. That is the reason why such unscrupulous elements rely on sources outside the State, he said.
The police, on the other hand, also have their hands tied in dealing with steroids.
“They [steroids] do not qualify as narcotics, thus limiting our role,” said A.B. Vibin, Sub Inspector of City Shadow Police, who led the team that arrested a gym instructor leading to the seizure of steroids worth ₹10 lakh from his lodging by drug control officials on Thursday.
Mr. John said combined operations by the police and the drug control authorities remain the way forward.
“It will be much better if the police inform us before they raid a place for steroids rather than rope us in after it,” he added.
However, the dearth of officials—only around 45 to 60 drug inspectors are available across the State—and vehicles hampers the enforcement drive of the Drugs Control Department to a great deal.
