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Quick Commerce Drugs: Convenience or Crisis?
9 Dec
Summary
- Quick commerce apps now offer prescription medicines and instant teleconsultations.
- Experts warn of risks including antibiotic misuse and weak verification.
- Concerns arise over compliance with India's Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Quick commerce platforms like Blinkit and Zepto have launched services enabling the delivery of prescription medicines, alongside instant teleconsultations that generate prescriptions rapidly. This development taps into India's demand for convenience but has sparked significant apprehension among healthcare professionals and public health experts.
Concerns center on the potential for increased antibiotic misuse and the lack of rigorous medical oversight. Experts highlight that these services may not fully comply with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which mandates licensed pharmacies and pharmacist supervision for prescription drugs. The speed of consultation and prescription generation is particularly worrying.
This new model faces scrutiny for potentially exacerbating India's antimicrobial resistance crisis and enabling easier access to habit-forming or potent medications. While quick delivery can be life-saving, its application to prescription drugs without robust safeguards poses a significant threat to public health and regulatory adherence.
