Last Updated on May 20, 2025 by The Health Master
Doorstep delivery of medicines
The new plan for doorstep delivery of medicines in India is being heavily evaluated. India’s drugs advisory body, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) plans to form a sub-committee to evaluate whether doorstep delivery of medicines should continue.
WHO WANTS IT?
The requirement for an evaluation comes from the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) which successfully put forth its demands to create such a committee.
The AIOCD wants the center to rescind its notification permitting doorstep deliveries of medicine.
The permission for such a practice was granted vide notification No. GSR 220 (E) dt-26-03-2020 during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure accessibility to drugs.
DTAB weighed in on the situation last week as well.
According to the DTAB meeting minutes, the DTAB listened to the concerns of AIOCD and thereafter recommended that a sub committee be formed to explore the situation further prior to any notification being revoked at this time.
Union Health Ministry Involved
The AIOCD’s primary concern relates to the doorstep delivery of medicines provision by multiple apps and online pharmacies.
Therefore, upon a hearing of such concerns, the Union Health Ministry became involved and sought the advice of DTAB.
Yet the March 2020 advisory also outlined the criteria for getting doorstep delivery of medicines: to prevent malpractice of prescriptions, prescriptions need to be stamped at the sale-generating location.
Need for E-Pharmacy Regulations
The Indian government has known the need for such e-pharmacy regulations for some time and attempted to create bills to fulfill these needs.
Either they were never implemented or they fell short of implementation efforts.
For example, in 2018, the health ministry issued a draft notification regulating e-pharmacies, indicating that all persons selling medicines online must get registered and that the online sale of narcotic, psychotropic drugs and tranquilizers will be prohibited.
Yet, these provisions never made it to the implementation stage.
Q. What is doorstep delivery of medicines?
This occurs when pharmacies send the medicines that patients need straight to their door.
Q. What did the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) recommend?
A sub-committee should be formed to further assess the situation before the revocation of the current notification to stop delivery.
Disclaimer: This article contains information obtained from the source mentioned below. Our team made changes in the format to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.Disclaimer: The information we have provided is for general knowledge and for informational purpose only and it cannot be treated as medical advice. Always consult your doctor for any health issues and / or for the treatment of the same. The Health Master does not claim responsibility for this information
Chemists demand reversal of Door Step Delivery Order
New Rules Soon for Disposal of expired Medicines
Haryana: Crackdown on illegal sale of MTP Kit: FIR Lodged
Delhi Cracks Down on Counterfeit Drug Racket
31,700 Tramadol tablets seized, one arrested
FDCA Gujarat cracks down on illegal Pregabalin racket
FOPE urges DCGI to review the list of 35 unapproved FDCs
Stricter Rules for OTC Drug Sales in India
For informative videos by The Health Master, click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on Medical Store / Pharmacy, click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on the news regarding Pharma / Medical Devices / Cosmetics / Homoeopathy etc., click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on consumer awareness, click on the below YouTube icon:
