Amidst protest against e-Pharmacy by lakhs of chemists and druggists across the country, many pharmacists believe that it's a need of the modern life and a part of digital India.
“We are supporting e-Pharmacy because it's need of the day, can give a strong boost in making India digital,” said said Vinay Kumar Bharti, a pharmacist. “E-Pharmacy is creating tremendous job opportunities for the pharmacists too,” he added.
Protesting against the e-Pharmacy (Online Pharmacy), All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has announced a nationwide strike on October 14to demand action from the Central Government against illegal online sale of medicine as injustice with the pharmacists as well as consumers or patients, he said.
An online pharmacy can effectively root out multiple issues which our healthcare consumer and systems are facing. Its very convenient for the consumers. Through online pharmacy consumers would be able to order medicines in a convenient manner even from their mobile or computers. This will significantly help those who are sick and not in a condition to go out to purchase medicines, said lalan Kumar, another pharmacist.
A consumer can get medicine on his home after uploading the medical prescription on web portal and can that's cost online. Even consumer can compare their prices on the various portals, said Ghanshyam. "Through help line numbers provided by the E-Pharmacy, consumer can get the adverse effect of the medicines and other needful quires", he added.
All medicine purchases can be tracked effectively an can reduce the problem of drug abuse and self-medication, he said. Meanwhile president of Bokaro District Chemist and Druggist Association H N Dubey said, we are opposing Central Government's move to regularise online sale of medicines.
"It may increase the risk of adverse drug reaction, which will give an opening for the entry of low-quality and fake medicines. "Government should crackdown on any online sale of medicines as it may increase the risk of misuse of drugs", added Dubey.