1. API Holdings, the parent company of PharmEasy, has requested the Union Health Minister, Mansukha Mandaviya, to expedite the notification of draft e-pharmacy rules​.

2. The request comes after the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) issued show-cause notices to about 20 online pharmacies for alleged violation of norms in February​.

3. API Holdings, in a letter to the Health Minister, asked for an urgent meeting to discuss issues and sought support for quick notification of the draft e-pharmacy rules and the New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill 2022​.

4. The company hopes to eliminate regulatory uncertainty and harmonize all existing regulations under which e-pharmacies are already compliant​.

5. Although the government has proposed draft legislation multiple times, a formal framework for e-pharmacies has yet to be established​.

6. The Health Ministry had released a draft notification in 2018 that regulated e-pharmacies, but these rules were never finalized​.

7. In March of this year, a parliamentary committee on commerce urged the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to finalize the e-pharmacy rules, stating that delays in defining a regulatory framework were causing uncertainty and hindering the growth of digital markets​.

8. Retail chemist organizations have protested against the sale of online medicines through e-pharmacies due to the lack of regulation​.

9. API Holdings defended the e-pharmacy sector, stating it provides quality and affordable medicines to about 100 million families across India and employment to about 150,000 skilled professionals. They expressed concern about the negative narrative questioning the legitimacy of the e-pharmacy model, which they believe is causing chaos among professionals employed by e-pharmacies​.

https://unlistedzone.com/shares/pharmeasy-share-price-unlisted-2022/