SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Healthcare Association (MHA) affiliated to the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) opposed the move of the Central government to regularise the sale of medicines through internet, i.e. E-pharmacy.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, vice-president of the association, David Kharsati asserted that E-pharmacy will encourage misuse of drugs as there will be cases of drug overdose due to easy availability of schedule and prescription medicine through internet.
General Secretary of MHA, Barun Chakraborty said the AIOCD will declare nationwide chemists strike from the midnight of September 27 till the midnight of September 28.
According to the association, the sale of medicine on the internet is totally illegal as per present provision of Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945.
Further the association said E-Pharmacy would lead to increase risk of adverse drug reaction (ADR), easy opening to entry of low quality and spurious medicines while there was also the danger of irrational use of medicines.
“There will be economical set back to 8.5 lakh chemists and approximately 3 crore workers and their families,” Kharsati said.