The digital revolution has significantly transformed healthcare services across India. Among these developments, online pharmacies have emerged as an important component of modern healthcare delivery systems. E-pharmacies provide consumers with convenience, accessibility, and cost-effective delivery of medicines through digital platforms. The growth of online pharmacies accelerated particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when physical access to healthcare facilities became difficult. However, the absence of a comprehensive legal framework governing online pharmaceutical services has created serious legal and regulatory concerns in India. This research paper critically examines the legal regulation of online pharmacies in India and analyses issues relating to consumer protection, public health, prescription drug misuse, counterfeit medicines, and data privacy. The study evaluates the applicability of laws such as the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the Pharmacy Act, 1948, the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 in regulating online pharmaceutical businesses. The paper further discusses judicial responses, international practices, and policy challenges associated with e-pharmacies. It concludes that while online pharmacies have the potential to improve healthcare accessibility, India urgently requires a dedicated regulatory framework to ensure accountability, transparency, and consumer safety in the digital pharmaceutical sector.
Dr. Dhiraj Sharma* (Mon,) studied this question.