“Online pharmacies are operating in an illegal space in our country, against the rules and regulations laid down by the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and the Rules thereunder,” reiterates a letter written to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) by the South Chemists & Distributors Association (SCDA).
The industry body, representing chemists and pharmaceutical distributors working in Delhi, has been vocal about the online sale of medicines in India. This recent letter to the PMO comes amid several quick-commerce platforms expanding into online medicine delivery, such as Zepto, Blinkit, Swiggy (in partnership with PharmEasy, another online medicine delivery app), as well as online payment applications like PhonePe and e-commerce platforms like Amazon.
What are their Concerns?
“Our citizens are paying the price for the increase in the valuation of start-ups,” the letter complained. The letter comes as Zepto prepares for an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Zepto also started online medicine delivery in August 2025.
In its letter, SCDA flagged several concerns about online medicine platforms, including the rapid issuance of prescriptions and the delivery of Schedule H1 drugs, such as antibiotics and antidepressants, within minutes. It also argued that prescribing antibiotics over the phone violates telemedicine guidelines, and claimed that prescriptions issued through these portals are inconsistent and sometimes encourage prolonged use to boost sales. It further raised concerns that repeat purchases of controlled substances often go unchecked, warning that such practices could worsen India’s already high burden of antibiotic resistance.
The association questioned the credibility of doctors linked to such prescriptions, alleging that some provide incomplete details, avoid scrutiny, or are untraceable, and that consultations remain superficial.
SCDA contrasted this with offline pharmacies, saying “Unlike the brick and mortar pharmacies, online pharmacies do not ask for any prescription of dispensation of medications, EVEN ANTIBIOTICS, and just issue a prescription in the customers’ name irrespective they require antibiotics or not. This is causing an alarming situation in our country as there is not even a face-to-face interaction for a suitable judgment.”
The Legal Uncertainty on the Sale of Medicines Online:
India does not yet have a dedicated legal framework governing the online delivery of medicines, creating a regulatory grey area at the centre of SCDA’s concerns.
While e-commerce platforms are broadly covered under the IT Act, 2000, the sale and distribution of medicines continue to be regulated by laws such as the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945; the Pharmacy Act, 1948; and the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. All these Acts were originally designed for the offline retail sale of medicines.
In 2018, before the pandemic-driven rise in online medicine purchases, the Delhi High Court
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