New Delhi: Industry leaders, policy experts, and entrepreneurs from India’s digital healthcare sector have urged the government to frame a balanced regulatory framework for e-pharmacies, highlighting their role in expanding healthcare access across the country.
The discussion took place during a webinar organised by CUTS International, moderated by senior journalist Anil Padmanabhan.
Speakers noted that e-pharmacies already serve over 15,000 pin codes, reaching patients in remote towns and villages with limited physical pharmacy access.
They emphasized that technology-enabled features like prescription validation, drug authentication, and traceability often ensure higher safety standards compared to offline pharmacies.
According to Bipul Chattopadhyay, Executive Director of CUTS International, e-pharmacies offer more than just affordable pricing.
With 24/7 availability, doorstep delivery, refill reminders, and access to online consultations, they have transformed consumer experience in healthcare.
Panelists stressed the urgent need for clear regulations to ensure patient safety while enabling innovation. Nirupama Soundararajan, Co-founder & CEO of Policy Consensus Centre, said pharmacies cannot operate in a regulatory vacuum, particularly given the sensitive nature of medicines.
Legal and public health experts added that e-pharmacies must be regulated by the national drug authority and Ministry of Health to ensure quality control and storage compliance.
Centralized warehouses, they argued, give regulators an opportunity to enforce stricter standards, though risks of misuse remain in both offline and online markets.
The discussion underlined that e-pharmacies should complement, not replace, traditional chemists. Examples were cited of local pharmacies expanding their reach by integrating with digital platforms.
Experts predicted that the future of pharmacies in India would follow an omnichannel model, combining local chemists, branded chains, and online platforms.
The session concluded with a call for regulatory clarity on prescription protocols, data security, and operational norms, ensuring that patients benefit from safe, accessible, and transparent healthcare services.
