This policy addresses the regulation and expansion of online pharmacies and telemedicine services in India.
**Online Pharmacies:** The Government of India has published draft rules (G.S.R. 817 E dated 28th August 2018) to amend the Drugs Rules, 1945, to regulate the sale and distribution of drugs through e-pharmacies. These draft rules include provisions for registration, inspection, distribution procedures, advertisement prohibition, complaint redressal, and monitoring of e-pharmacies. State Licensing Authorities (SLAs), appointed by State Governments, are responsible for regulating the sale and distribution of drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and rules. SLAs are empowered to monitor compliance and take action in case of violations.
**Telemedicine:** Telemedicine services are provided in both urban and rural areas nationwide, utilizing available digital infrastructure.
**Digital Health Workforce Training:** The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, providing states with funds for human resources, IEC activities, and capacity building for various stakeholders, including frontline workers. CDAC Mohali conducts training sessions for healthcare staff on the eSanjeevani platform upon request from state nodal officers. Master trainers are also trained at state and district levels to facilitate training for spoke-level health workers in local languages.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
SHRI AMRINDER SINGH RAJA WARRING: The Member of Parliament who raised the question about online pharmacies.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who provided the answer.
Drugs Rules, 1945: The rules being amended to incorporate provisions for regulating the sale and distribution of drugs through e-pharmacies.
Drugs and Cosmetics Act: The Act under which State Licensing Authorities regulate the sale and distribution of drugs.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: A central sector scheme implemented in all states to develop the digital healthcare infrastructure.
CDAC Mohali: The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) located in Mohali, which conducts training sessions on the eSanjeevani platform for healthcare staff.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2147
TOBE ANSWERED ON01ST AUGUST,2025
REGULATIONAND EXPANSIONOFONLINE PHARMACIES
2147.SHRIAMRINDERSINGHRAJAWARRING:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a)whether the Government hasframedclearregulatoryguidelinesfor online pharmaciesand
medicinedelivery platformsandif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether there are any quality and authenticity audits being conducted for medicines sold
through e-pharmaciesandif so, the detailsthereof;
(c) whether the Government has developed telemedicine standards for tier-2 and tier-3 towns
underAyushman Bharat Digital Mission andif so, the detailsthereof; and
(d) the measures being taken to train rural health workers in using digital diagnostic or
consultationplatforms?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a): In order to regulate the online sale of medicines comprehensively, the
Government of India has published draft rules vide G.S.R. 817 (E) dated 28th August 2018
for inviting comments from public/stakeholders for amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945 for
incorporating provisions relating to regulation of sale and distribution of drugs through e-
pharmacy.
The draft rules contain provisions for registration of e-pharmacy, periodic inspection of e-
pharmacy, procedure for distribution or sale of drugs through e-pharmacy, prohibition of
advertisement of drugs through e-pharmacy, complaint redressal mechanism, monitoring of e
-pharmacy, etc.
(b): Sale and distribution of drugs are regulated by the State Licencing Authorities
appointedby State Government underDrugs andCosmetics Act andrulesmade thereunder.
State Licencing Authorities (SLAs) are empowered under the said Act and rules for
its implementation and monitoring and in case of non-compliance, SLAs can take action as
perthe said Act andrules.(c): There is no such categorisation of towns under e-Sanjeevani. However, telemedicine
services are provided in both urban and rural areas across the country with the available
digitalinfrastructure like laptop/desktops, e-Sanjeevaniapplication, andinternetconnectivity
(d): The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is implemented in all states as a
Central Sector Scheme under which states are provided funds for supporting the human
resources deployed for implementation of ABDM, IEC (information, education &
communication)andcapacity buildingof variousstakeholders, includingfront line workers.
Besides, under e-Sanjeevani on request from state nodal officers, C-DAC Mohali
conducts training sessions of the eSanjeevani platform for healthcare staff, including
practitioners and providers, to ensure continuity and keep them updated on platform
enhancements. Master trainers are also trained at both state and district levels to facilitate
cascading training for spoke-level health workers, enabling scalable implementation and
support inlocallanguages.
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