The Centre told the Bombay High Court on Friday that it will bring out rules to regulate sale of medicines online by January 31.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a public interest litigation filed by a college professor, Mayuri Patil. The petition said that several schedule ‘H’ drugs and other drugs not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were being advertised and sold online without following the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and the Rules and Regulations. The PIL has sought a ban on all these drugs.
D.P. Singh, the Centre’s counsel, informed the court that the Madras High Court had directed the Centre to notify rules regarding online sale of medicines by January 31. He said the government has framed the draft rules and is in the process of finalising them under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The court observed that the the issue was crucial as it concerns public health, and asked the Centre and the State what steps have been taken to ensure that medicines are sold only through licensed chemist shops. The court also asked the amicus curiae, senior advocate Zal Andhyarujina, for his suggestions and adjourned the matter to February 4.
In the last hearing, the court directed the Centre to file an affidavit on who is authorised to take action against websites that display advertisements of medicines that are not approved by the FDA. The court directed the State to get in touch with the Information and Broadcasting and Information and Technology Departments and inform it on the action taken.
