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DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Medicine Dealers’ Association (NMDA) has expressed solidarity with the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) against the alleged partnership between Swiggy Instamart and Pharm Easy to deliver medicines in 10 minutes through dark stores.
AIOCD argued that such move against the standards set under Indian law could lead to many serious health and safety related threats.
A NMDA press release stated that over 12.40 lakh members of AIOCD, who are committed to maintaining the quality of medicine distribution and healthcare across the country, have recently expressed deep concern by writing a letter to Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) over the alleged partnership between Swiggy Instamart and Pharm Easy to deliver medicines in 10 minutes through dark stores.
Informing that AIOCD president, JS Shinde, and the general secretary, Rajiv Singhal, have pointed out concerns before CDSCO.
AIOCD contended that there are strict rules for distribution of medicines in India which ensure patient safety. It was of the opinion that such partnership was likely to ignore important standards like proper prescription checking and patient identification, which might endanger the health of common citizens.
It also pointed out that despite the efforts being made by the government to tackle the threat of AMR, the unregulated operation of e-pharmacies was feared to further increase the problem. It added that such partnerships undermined the efforts to fight AMR.
It stated that such a partnership with Pharm Easy, which itself is embroiled in several legal cases due to regulatory violations, could also increase legal and regulatory risks for Swiggy.
It fpointed out that the ultra-fast delivery model might increase the possibility of expired or counterfeit medicines, which is harmful to patient safety. In such a model, AIOCD stated that it is not possible to follow the required quality standards.
AIOCD believed that such partnerships are a matter of concern not only legally, but also from the point of view of public health and safety. It, therefore, urged the government to review the issues thoroughly and take all necessary steps so that the citizens of the country receive safe and reliable healthcare services.
AIOCD further stated that it is committed to upholding the role of traditional chemists and continue to oppose any potential threat to the safety of the public.