From today, drug retailers will be now legally allowed to sell
over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to individuals through the Internet,
according to a trial regulation issued on the website of State Food
and Drug Administration (SFDA) on October 8.
Prior to this, the online sale of drugs was prohibited pursuant
to a ruling issued on May 28, 2004.
SFDA later issued Certificates for Online Drug Information
Service for approved enterprises. But the certificate only allows
for the provision of drug information for a fee.
According to the new provision, drug manufacturers and
pharmaceutical companies that have online drug dispensing services
can apply for a certificate to sell OTC drugs to individuals
online.
Only chain drug retailers with licensed pharmacists giving
online counseling and consultation, and who have a system of
maintaining records of such counseling and consultations will be
issued certificates.
But some concerns have been raised about the new ruling.
For one, the quality or authenticity of the drugs cannot be
guaranteed. And with so many drugstores dotted all over the city,
it begs the question if the online service is really
necessary.
A superintendent with Market Monitoring Department of SFDA said
that the new provision is designed to enhance the surveillance of
online drug exchanges, and it is good news for those online drug
stores with legal licenses and marketing systems.
Dazhaimen Online Drug Store under the Hebei Anguo Pharmacy
Group, one of the country's key traditional medicine manufactures,
is planning to apply for the certificate, the superintendent of the
store told Hangzhou-based Business Daily on October
15.
Not so optimistic was Ren Yan, general manager of Beijing Zhan
Chun Tang Pharmacy, who told Chinese Women on November 11:
"We will stop our online service of drug selling soon due to a
narrow margin of profit. It's no easy job to operate an online drug
store, web-building technology, a special office and professional
staff to update and maintain the website make it difficult for
medium and small-sized enterprises like us."
Vice Chairman of China Association of Pharmaceutical Commerce, Zhu
Changzhi said that the new provision would do more good than harm
because it fills a gap for online drug exchange services and, it is
hoped, will instill some order to online sales of drugs in
general.
"Online sale of OTC drugs to individuals is just a supplement to
the existing drug retailing system; it doesn't replace the latter.
It also shouldn't affect prices too much," according to Dr. Shi
Weigan with the Institute of World Economics and Politics, China
Academy of Social Sciences.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, December 1, 2005)