DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 22 (MExN): The Nagaland Medical Dealers Association (NMDA) has joined the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) in raising concerns over a controversial partnership between Swiggy Instamart and PharmEasy. The collaboration, which aims to deliver medicines within 10 minutes through "dark stores," has sparked alarm about potential risks to public health and safety.
In a press release, NMDA expressed its deep concern, emphasizing that the partnership goes against established Indian laws that regulate the distribution of medicines and ensure patient safety. On this, AIOCD President JS Shinde and General Secretary Rajiv Singhal had stated that the partnership could bypass essential safeguards, including proper prescription verification and patient identification, putting the health of ordinary citizens at significant risk, the press release stated.
The AIOCD also warned that such unregulated e-pharmacy operations could exacerbate the problem of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), despite ongoing government efforts to tackle this issue. The organization expressed fears that the partnership could contribute to the rise of AMR by undermining regulations that control the sale of antibiotics and other critical medications.
Furthermore, the AIOCD raised concerns about the partnership's potential legal and regulatory risks, given that PharmEasy is reportedly involved in several legal cases related to regulatory violations. This, according to the AIOCD, could expose Swiggy to increased scrutiny and legal complications.
The organization had also highlighted the risk that the ultra-fast delivery model could lead to the distribution of expired or counterfeit medicines, posing serious threats to patient safety. With such a model, it becomes difficult to maintain the necessary quality standards that ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines.
Supporting the stand of the AIOCD, the NMDA has called for a thorough review of the partnership by the government and urged authorities to take all necessary steps to safeguard the health and safety of the public. It also reaffirmed commitment to supporting traditional chemists and opposing any practices that may compromise the quality and safety of healthcare services in India.
