Emerging e-pharmacy sector in India: ethical and regulatory concerns

The rise of e-commerce has significantly broadened the marketplace, introducing greater convenience and accessibility to the desired products at the doorsteps of consumers. In recent years, even pharmacies have embraced the online platform. E-commerce plays a crucial role in providing technologically advanced healthcare services to all. While e-pharmacies provide numerous benefits, there are also inherent risks that can impact the health and well-being of patients. Since no legislation in India specifically deals with the e-pharmacy sector, they are governed by the existing legislation that regulates the pharmaceutical industry. This paper seeks to analyse challenges in regulating the e-pharmacy sector and to critically evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of the existing legislations in ensuring the safety and integrity of online pharmaceutical transactions in India.