AIOCD Raises Concerns Over Potential Instamart-PharmEasy Partnership for 10-Minute Medicine Delivery

The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has raised significant alarm over a proposed collaboration between Swiggy’s grocery delivery service, Instamart, and e-pharmacy leader PharmEasy. This partnership aims to facilitate medicine delivery within a 10-minute window using dark stores, a model commonly associated with rapid grocery delivery. In a formal communication to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), AIOCD argued that this ultra-fast delivery approach may infringe upon Indian pharmaceutical regulations and endanger public health and safety.

 Potential Regulatory and Safety Breaches 

AIOCD leaders, President JS Shinde and General Secretary Rajiv Singhal, expressed apprehension that this quick-delivery model could undermine crucial regulatory checks designed to protect patients. They highlighted that medicine distribution in India adheres to stringent protocols, including verifying prescriptions and confirming patient identity, to safeguard public health. According to AIOCD, the accelerated delivery model may sidestep these essential procedures, putting patients at risk due to insufficient verification measures.

 Concerns Over Prescription Standards and Patient Identification 

A key point raised by AIOCD was the risk of compromised prescription verification and patient identification. In the letter, AIOCD emphasized that without adequate prescription checking, there is a heightened risk of inappropriate medication use, which can be harmful. "By ignoring necessary prescription checks and patient identification, this delivery model could severely impact citizen health and safety," AIOCD stated, reiterating the importance of established processes for secure medicine dispensing.

 Implications for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 

AIOCD also voiced concerns about the potential impact of the Instamart-PharmEasy partnership on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical issue in Indian healthcare. They argued that the "unregulated" delivery model of e-pharmacies like PharmEasy might contribute to the rising threat of AMR. This could happen through uncontrolled distribution of antibiotics without proper medical oversight, potentially counteracting government efforts to address this public health challenge.

 Quality Risks with Rapid Delivery 

Another serious issue highlighted by AIOCD was the potential compromise in medicine quality due to the speed-focused model. The association warned that delivering medicines within such a brief timeframe could increase the likelihood of expired or counterfeit drugs entering the supply chain, posing a grave risk to patients. "Ensuring quality control standards in an ultra-fast delivery model is challenging and could lead to harmful outcomes for patients," the association stated, emphasizing the need for strict quality checks to maintain safe medicine distribution.

 Urging Regulatory Scrutiny and Advocacy for Traditional Pharmacies 

In its appeal, AIOCD urged the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to closely scrutinize the proposed collaboration, stressing the importance of traditional pharmacies in the responsible dispensation of medicines. They affirmed their commitment to advocating for safe distribution practices and emphasized that they would continue to oppose any initiative that could potentially endanger public health.

In conclusion, AIOCD has taken a firm stance against the rapid delivery model proposed by Instamart and PharmEasy, citing potential risks to both regulatory compliance and patient safety. The association has called on the authorities to carefully assess the partnership’s possible impacts on drug regulation, quality control, and the broader healthcare ecosystem in India.