Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 20: Chemists and medical shop owners in south Kashmir’s Shopian today raised concern over the alleged unchecked online sale of medicines, claiming that prescription drugs were being sold through digital platforms without proper verification and regulatory oversight.
The concerns were raised during a protest organised by local chemists and pharmacists in the town.
They alleged that while conventional pharmacy owners were required to follow strict guidelines for dispensing medicines, many online platforms were operating without adequate checks.
The protesters said the growing online sale of NRx medicines could lead to misuse, addiction and other serious health risks, particularly among the youth.
They urged the Government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and enforce stricter regulations on online drug sales.
President of the Pharmacist Association, Nazir Ahmad Dalal, said the unchecked online sale of NRx and “spurious drugs” had emerged as a major concern.
“This protest is against the online sale of drugs, which is leading to an increase in the circulation of NRx and spurious medicines. We want to save our youth,” Dalal said.
He alleged that while local chemists are required to verify doctors’ prescriptions, signatures, stamps and dates before dispensing medicines, such procedures were often ignored in online sales.
“We are required to follow all necessary guidelines for the sale of NRx drugs, including checking prescriptions, doctors’ signatures, stamps and dates. But online, these guidelines are not being followed,” he said.
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