Chemist body AIOCD writes to Jeff Bezos, says e-pharmacies are ‘illegal’

The top body of chemists and druggists has shot off a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the world’s largest online retailer entering the online pharmacy space in India, saying e-pharmacies are “illegal” and not allowed under the country’s laws.

The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which claims to represent 8.5 lakh chemists, on August 14 wrote to Bezos and his India CEO Amit Agarwal saying the online pharmacy space “has been marred by extreme controversies, court cases, and legal issues in last few years.”

“We are writing to you as we came to know that www.amazon.in has decided to enter ‘online pharmacy’ space, probably oblivious to the fact that e-pharmacies are illegal and not recognised by the laws under Drug and Cosmetic Act & Rules thereunder,” it wrote.