Last Updated on January 13, 2024 by The Health Master
Chinese Investment in Indian e-Pharmacy Sector Poses Threat to National Security
The Indian government has decided to ban the online sale of medicines due to geopolitical tensions with China, which has as much as Rs 20,000 crore invested in this sector, according to government sources.
The sources added that allowing Chinese control in the e-Pharmacy sector will be detrimental to national security, given the country’s dominance in the critical sector.
The government, however, acknowledges that banning online sales of medicines will not happen overnight, as foreign investors have put in as much as Rs 50,000 crore in this segment, with Chinese firms accounting for Rs 20,000 crore of this investment.
Government Issues Show Cause Notices to Major e-Pharmacy Firms
The government has issued show cause notices to over a dozen firms, including Amazon, Practo, Tata1mg, PharmEasy, Apollo, Zeelabs, and Healthcart, for selling medicine online without necessary licenses.
However, the government is not satisfied with the responses it has received on the show cause notices, according to sources.
Industry Experts Divided Over Centre’s Move to Ban e-Pharmacies
Industry experts are divided on the government’s decision to ban e-pharmacies.
While some agree with the move, others are concerned that chemists may not adhere to the ban, leading to the development of black markets for medicine sales that bypass the law.
Samiran Nundy, former head of the department of gastrointestinal surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and co-author of the book “Healers or Predators: Healthcare Corruption in India,” said that he is in agreement with the government on banning online sales of medicines.
He added that people avoid taking doctors’ prescriptions to save money, but that comes at the cost of not getting the right medicine.
Concerns Over China’s Dominance in India’s Pharma Space Fuel Govt’s Decision to Ban Online Sale of medicines
The Indian government’s decision to ban online sales of medicines is intended to prevent China’s dominance in this critical sector, given the geopolitical tensions between the two countries.
However, as foreign investors have a significant stake in the e-Pharmacy sector, banning online sales of medicines will not happen overnight. Nonetheless, the government is firm on its decision to take this step to protect national security.
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