The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has raised major concerns over a potential partnership between Swiggy’s grocery service, Instamart, and the online pharmacy PharmEasy. This collaboration aims to facilitate the delivery of medicines within 10 minutes through dark stores—a rapid service model that has sparked criticism among industry representatives. In a formal letter to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), the AIOCD cautioned that the ultra-fast delivery model could potentially sidestep crucial regulatory requirements, endangering public health and violating existing Indian pharmaceutical laws.

JS Shinde, President of AIOCD, and Rajiv Singhal, its General Secretary, outlined several concerns about the proposed partnership in their letter to the DCGI. According to the association, the accelerated delivery model might compromise essential safety standards, including the verification of prescriptions and identification of patients—measures designed to prevent misuse or harm. The AIOCD emphasized that these protocols are critical in maintaining patient safety and preventing unauthorized access to prescription drugs. Shinde and Singhal noted, “This partnership is likely to ignore important standards like proper prescription checking and patient identification, which may endanger the health of common citizens.”

AIOCD also highlighted the public health threat posed by unregulated e-pharmacy operations in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing concern for health systems worldwide. The organization believes that if PharmEasy’s delivery model is left unchecked, it may lead to inappropriate antibiotic distribution, exacerbating the AMR issue. As the improper dispensing of antibiotics is a major contributor to AMR, AIOCD warns that PharmEasy’s model could potentially undermine the government's current efforts to control this escalating problem.

In addition to these health and regulatory concerns, AIOCD raised issues about PharmEasy’s history of regulatory scrutiny, questioning whether the company could adequately adhere to standards required for the safe distribution of medicines under such an expedited delivery timeline. The association suggested that the reputation of both PharmEasy and Swiggy might be at stake, noting that the rapid-delivery approach could increase the risk of expired or counterfeit drugs reaching consumers. They explained that meeting the quality requirements of pharmaceutical distribution under these conditions is highly challenging. “The ultra-fast delivery model may increase the possibility of expired or counterfeit medicines, which is harmful to patient safety. In such a model, it is not possible to follow the required quality standards,” the AIOCD asserted.

The AIOCD has urged the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to conduct a thorough investigation into the proposed collaboration between Swiggy Instamart and PharmEasy. They contend that the business model may disregard essential regulatory protocols and undermine the role of traditional pharmacies, which have long been committed to the safe and regulated dispensing of medications. The organization pledged to resist any initiative that could compromise public health and safety, maintaining its commitment to protecting patients by upholding industry standards.

The association's stance reflects an increasing concern among pharmacists and healthcare professionals about the rise of online pharmacies, which operate on models that differ significantly from traditional, community-based pharmacies. Critics argue that traditional pharmacies offer a controlled environment where prescriptions are verified and pharmacists can educate patients on appropriate medicine use—key safeguards that may be missing in ultra-fast e-pharmacy deliveries. AIOCD’s appeal for regulatory scrutiny aligns with this perspective, focusing on the risks associated with relaxed delivery timelines and the potential for errors in prescription verification and product quality.

The association’s concerns extend beyond patient safety to the impact on professional standards within the pharmaceutical industry. For instance, traditional chemists must adhere to stringent quality controls and must ensure the legitimacy of all drugs dispensed, requirements that might be difficult to maintain in a model that delivers medicines within minutes. AIOCD has indicated that it would support stricter regulation of online pharmacies, emphasizing the need for consistent standards across both online and offline medicine dispensing practices.

In response to this appeal, the CDSCO may have to evaluate the partnership's adherence to regulatory and safety protocols more closely. With the rising demand for faster delivery services, the regulatory body may also consider introducing guidelines specific to e-pharmacies, ensuring that the quality and safety of medicine distribution remain intact. Meanwhile, AIOCD has affirmed its ongoing commitment to safeguarding patient health, advocating for regulatory measures that prioritize safety over speed.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)