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AI Fakes Prescriptions: E-Pharmacies Risk Public Health
17 Feb
Summary
- AI-generated fake prescriptions accepted by unregulated e-pharmacies.
- Illicit sale of restricted and banned medicines bypasses verification.
- Chemists' body warns of public health threat and regulatory gaps.
A grave public health threat is emerging from the misuse of artificial intelligence to create fake medical prescriptions, according to the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). The organization has alerted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the issue, urging immediate regulatory action.
Investigations revealed that AI platforms can generate fabricated prescriptions, which some online pharmacies are accepting. This facilitates the illegal online sale of antibiotics, psychotropic drugs, opioids, and even banned substances, with minimal verification. AIOCD highlights that differentiating fake from genuine prescriptions is nearly impossible online, unlike the human oversight in offline pharmacies.
The chemists' body criticized unregulated e-pharmacy platforms for exploiting existing regulations. They argue this practice compromises patient safety and the integrity of India's drug control system. The unregulated use of AI-generated prescriptions could exacerbate antimicrobial resistance and increase the misuse of psychotropic drugs, they warned.
