The Delhi High Court on Saturday granted the government four months as the ‘last and final opportunity’ to frame policy on the online sale of medicines, news agency PTI reported.
“If the draft policy is not prepared before the next date of hearing, this court will have no other option but to proceed ahead with the matter,” a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora.
The HC was hearing several pleas seeking a ban on the ‘illegal’ online sale of drugs. It has also challenged the draft rules published by the ministry to further amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. The matter has been listed for the hearing on July 8.
Earlier, the court had asked the Centre to file a status report on the petitions. The joint secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was also present in the court during the recent hearing. The officer sought four months more to frame the policy for the online sale of drugs as per the draft notification of August 28, 2018.
The Centre, however, said the issue was complex and would have far-reaching consequences if modifications were made to it. It said the issue would involve several amendments to the current acts and rules.
Challenging the August 2018 notification, the petitioner, South Chemists and Distributors Association has said that the draft rules are being pushed through in “serious violation” of the law, ignoring the health hazards caused by the sale of medicines online without proper regulations.
