India, Feb. 17 -- The Chemist Association of Pune District (CAPD) has written to the Union health minister J P Nadda and other senior officials requesting an urgent need for a ban on online pharmacies and the sale of drugs for public health and safety. The association claims the unregulated online sale of drugs is posing a public health hazard.

Many online platforms do not strictly adhere to prescription verification, leading to easy access to high-risk drugs, including antibiotics, psychotropic substances, and habit-forming medications. "This can lead to drug misuse, resistance, and addiction," said the CAPD in the letter.

Vivek Tapkir, vice president, CAPD, said there is no check for the quality and authenticity of drugs sold online. ...