India Pharma Outlook Team | Tuesday, 12 August 2025
The All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which represents 10 lakh chemists in India, have asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to curtail the ability of quick-commerce platforms from selling prescription drugs.
In a letter dated August 11, 2025, the AIOCD noted examples of companies such as Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart selling prescription drugs such as antibiotics, and strong medicines that require an actual prescription from a medical doctor, not adhering to the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The AIOCD was also concerned about the inherent weaknesses, particularly in an online model, to check prescriptions or whether the drugs were stored correctly, potentially rendering products ineffective or dangerous.
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The AIOCD has specifically pointed out, among other things, concerns that prescription work could eventually result in abuse e.g., readily consuming antibiotics when they aren’t needed, creating a systemic problem of antibiotic resistance, health authorities already worry about.
Moreover, the AIOCD indicates that lower costs provided by quick commerce platforms that are significantly lower than local brick and mortars is damaging local pharmacy business, without any serious plan of addressing the needs of these local businesses.
The chemists are pushing for stricter rules to ensure only licensed pharmacies can sell prescription drugs. They also mentioned a 2018 Delhi High Court decision that bans online drug sales without proper licenses. The CDSCO hasn’t responded yet, and the quick-commerce companies haven’t commented either, though some industry insiders say they follow the law. This issue could change how medicines are sold online in India.
