The Bangalore District Druggists and Chemists Association (BDCDA) has raised serious concerns over the growing prevalence of anti-competitive and non-compliant pharmaceutical advertising campaigns by unregulated online pharmacies. The association has appealed to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to take immediate action to safeguard consumer interests and ensure ethical advertising practices are followed in the pharmaceutical sector.

Key highlights

Anti-competitive advertising practices

• BDCDA calls on the CCI to investigate unregulated online pharmacies for aggressive and misleading marketing tactics.

• These campaigns violate pharmaceutical advertising standards, distort fair market competition, and threaten public health.

Impact on public health and trust

• Misleading ads undermine the role of licensed community pharmacists and promote irrational self-medication, contributing to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

• The growing availability of counterfeit medicines and the increased risk of drug abuse are significant concerns.

Unregulated platforms and price wars

• The BDCDA highlights the increasing use of social media, mobile apps, and influencers to promote medicine sales without necessary regulatory oversight.

• These digital platforms create unfair price wars and damage the integrity of India’s pharmaceutical supply chain, impacting patient safety and consumer perception.

Nationwide initiative to combat counterfeit drugs

• The BDCDA has launched a nationwide campaign, “War Against Counterfeit Medicines,” to address the growing problem of fake drugs in the market.

• The association emphasizes the importance of ethical dispensing and proper prescription safeguards in combating counterfeit medicines.

Call for immediate regulatory action

• The BDCDA urges the CCI to conduct a detailed legal investigation into the practices of online pharmacies and Medplus retail chain.

• The association advocates for the suspension of ads promoting Schedule H/H1 medicines without prescription safeguards and the establishment of a dedicated Social Media and Digital Platform Monitoring Cell.

The BDCDA’s call for regulatory action highlights the urgent need to address the risks posed by unregulated online pharmacies. By enforcing stricter regulations on pharmaceutical advertising and sales, the government can protect consumers, ensure public health safety, and maintain the integrity of the pharmaceutical sector.