AIOCD Seeks PM’s Intervention to Stop Illegal E-Pharmacies, Withdraw GSR 817 & 220

The organisation said the unchecked online sale of medicines is intensifying India’s public health vulnerabilities, particularly antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately halt the illegal operations of e-pharmacies and quick-commerce platforms, while calling for the withdrawal of proposed drug regulations GSR 817 and GSR 220.

The organisation said the unchecked online sale of medicines is intensifying India’s public health vulnerabilities, particularly antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Representing over 12 lakh licensed chemists, AIOCD submitted a detailed appeal led by president J S Shinde and general secretary Rajiv Singhal. The association said online platforms are distributing prescription drugs, including antibiotics, without statutory licences, qualified pharmacists, or proper patient-record systems. It added that these practices violate key laws such as the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the Pharmacy Act, and the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines issued in 2020.

AIOCD warned that such unregulated access to medicines risks escalating AMR in a country already among the worst affected globally. The organisation reiterated that “medicines are not grocery items” and cautioned that easy online availability of antibiotics could push India toward a severe public health emergency, with the potential to cause millions of deaths annually.

In its submission, AIOCD outlined four key demands. The first was immediate action to stop illegal e-pharmacies in line with a Delhi High Court order from December 12, 2018. The second involved withdrawing GSR 817 and GSR 220, which the group believes could legitimise unregulated digital medicine sales. The third sought a high-level probe into the ‘doctor-on-call’ model used by some platforms. The fourth called for strict enforcement, ensuring that medicines are dispensed only through licensed brick-and-mortar pharmacies with qualified pharmacists.

The organisation’s concerns were reinforced by a recent investigative report aired by a national television channel. The sting operation showed a quick-commerce platform facilitating the purchase of a prescription-only antibiotic by routing the user to an unidentified “general physician” who approved the drug within minutes. The doctor reportedly did not disclose basic credentials, raising doubts about verification and accountability.

Medical experts quoted in the report termed the model “unethical” and “illegal”, warning that such practices bypass essential medical safeguards and directly contribute to rising AMR levels.

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