How to open E-Pharmacy in India from scratch ?

Given the significance of the internet in our lives, it was not surprising when pharmacies began to switch to an online platform. The creation and sale of prescription and over-the-counter medications are the core activities of the online pharmacy, just like in physical pharmacies. On the other hand, internet pharmacies accept online orders and mail the medications to the customer. To protect public health worldwide, around 32,500 online pharmacists perform services within the bounds of the law.

Beginning in the late 1990s, online drug sales proliferated quickly throughout the world. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opened a section on its official website under the heading "Buying drugs on the Internet" in response to this quick change, and with the guidelines it published, it emphasised that people should exercise caution when dealing with unauthorised online pharmacies.

What is E-Pharmacy ?

A pharmacy known as an "e-Pharmacy" ships medications to customers after selling them online. The method of buying drugs has gotten considerably simpler and more convenient as a result of the internet. Patients can use the internet to place prescription drug orders with licensed pharmacists, who will then ship the medications to the patient's local delivery location. The E-Pharmacy concept, which is incredibly user-friendly and keeps expanding quickly, began to displace conventional pharmacies.

How Does E-Pharmacy Work?

Patients download mobile applications on their smartphones or tablets as a first step. Then, they upload a copy of their scanned prescriptions to the system to create a request for medications. A staff of licenced pharmacists controls each drug request made through the system.The complete system works as the best pharmacy franchise operates their outlets. The prescriptions that registered pharmacists determine to be valid are sent to the pharmacy warehouse in the area where the patient will get the medications. This unique technology is as simple to use as it is secure, and it can operate on both mobile and web platforms.

E-Pharmacy Rules and Regulations

The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 ("D&C Act"), read with the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 ("D&C Rules") (collectively, the "D&C Act and Rules"), and the Pharmacy Act, 1948, currently serve as the primary pieces of legislation governing the production, sale, and distribution of drugs and cosmetics in India. Several requirements in the D&C Act and Rules ensure the high calibre and standard of the pharmaceuticals.

Notably, no one is allowed to produce any drugs for sale or distribution, stock them for sale, distribute them, or sell them unless they are in compliance with the terms of a valid licence and/or are contaminated, falsely branded, spurious, or of subpar quality.

A financial fine and/or jail time may be imposed as punishment for violating the aforementioned provisions. In particular, only prescriptions from licensed medical professionals may be produced and used to sell medications listed in Schedule H, Schedule H1 or Schedule X of the D&C Rules at retail. Additionally, any medication that is on a doctor's prescription can only be given out by a licensed pharmacist.

Through its notification G.S.R. 817 (E) dated August 28, 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published a proposal to change the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 ("Rules"). The Rules suggest a chapter on "drug sales by E-Pharmacy." The word "e-pharmacy" has been established under the draught Rules for the first time to define it as the business of distributing or selling, stocking, exhibiting, or making medications available for sale through a web portal or any other electronic form.

The conditions for registration placed on the e-pharmacy, such as location, disclosure of information, method for distribution and sale, etc., were also provided, as well as provisions for the application for registration and its validity. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985, tranquilisers, and the drugs listed in Schedule X of the Rules are among the restrictions imposed on the e-pharmacy. These restrictions include the prohibition of advertising any drugs for any purpose on radio, television, the internet, print, or any other media. In addition, the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 has been supplemented with a monitoring of e-pharmacy, complaint redressal mechanism that gives the right to file a complaint to the state drugs controller (the "Drugs Controller") for any suspicion of the supply of substandard quality, adulterated, or misbranded drugs through the e-pharmacy.

In addition to the aforementioned, e-pharmacies and its portal must abide by the terms of the IT Act, its regulations, and The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 ("E-Commerce Rules"). The IT Act and its rules specify the conditions under which a web portal may operate, whereas the E-Commerce Rules have laid out in great detail the obligations of an e-commerce entity or marketplace e-commerce entity that must be met as well as the details of the information that must be disclosed in the portal.

How to open E-Pharmacy?

You will need to either establish your own online pharmacy website or mobile app, register as a seller, or purchase a franchise of an existing online pharmacy portal in order to start an online pharmacy.

You must first set up a physical pharmacy, just like with a traditional pharmacy, before creating your own online pharmacy website or app or signing up as a seller at an already-existing online pharmacy portal.

To receive and process prescriptions uploaded by the patient or his caretaker, you will need a pharmacist at your online pharmacy. For the purpose of selling medications online, an offline pharmacy must be set up with all necessary paperwork.

Requirements to open E pharmacy

• Area required: Minimum of 100 square feet
• Registered Pharmacist: All related documents photocopy will be attached along with Drug License application form
• Rent agreement or ownership proof of premises
• Blue print of premises (3 copies)
• Address Proof of Premises
• Refrigerator and Air conditional Purchase Bill

Courier Partners

To reach their consumers online, e-pharmacies might collaborate with delivery partners. They now have the chance to supply medications to customers who actually need them, all without having to worry about incurring the hefty costs of hiring their own delivery personnel. Customers profit from the convenience of having their prescription medications delivered right to their door.

Goods and Service Tax Number (GST)

While GST is only required for businesses with yearly sales of over 40 lac, it may be required for all businesses and individuals making any amount of internet sales. You must establish an online presence after apply a GST number online and a retail medication licence. Building your own e-commerce pharmacy website or app or opening a seller account at one that currently exists are two ways to establish an online presence.

Application for registration of e-pharmacy

Anyone who wants to operate an online pharmacy must submit a Form 18AA application to the Central Licensing Authority through the Central Government's online portal in order to be registered.

The affidavit from the applicant that has been properly notarized must support the information that has been provided above.

Any Form 18AA application submitted to the Central Licensing Authority for the purpose of obtaining an e-pharmacy registration must be accompanied by the required information and documentation, as well as a cost of 50,000 rupees.

Investment required to start online E-pharmacy

In the event of a liability suit, owners will need to purchase a lot of medical insurance. The average cost of a pharmaceutical claim is more than $14,000, and these figures will probably rise as more people get healthcare online, which is still mostly unregulated.

The states from which they sell their prescriptions and the states to which they sell them will both require medical practitioners to obtain licences. (State-specific prices for these licences will vary.) Additionally, business owners will need to employ legal counsel to make sure they are abiding by all regulations and pay their medical staff well in order to provide high-quality care. Finally, owners must take into consideration the wholesale price of prescription drugs, which varies according to the supplier.

Estimated profits from E-Pharmacy

The annual spending on prescription pharmaceuticals, which exceeds $370 billion, presents a huge profit opportunity for online pharmacies. Because of both ageing demographics and typical inflation, these figures are only predicted to increase. If your pharmacy sells 1,000 prescriptions a month on average for $400 each and monthly operating expenses total $300,000, it still leaves you with a $100,000 profit

How to get sales on e-pharmacy

Online marketing

You need to attract qualified traffic to your store, just as with any other internet business, if you want to attract customers. Purchasing online advertisements like this is among the best strategies to achieve that.

• Marketing on Facebook
• Instagram Ads
• A specific post about YouTube

SEO positioning

Although online advertisements are a significant source of traffic, you shouldn't rely solely on sponsored visitors. Your primary objective should therefore be to naturally show up in the top rankings of Google searches.

Keeping a blog (health-related questions get lots of hits)

Most millennials prefer to examine their symptoms online before visiting a doctor, according to a survey by Research C.

If blogs are such a great source of information for them, then why don't you publish articles about the goods sold by your online pharmacy to draw readers who might later subscribe and become clients.

Top 10 Pharma franchise in India

• Genericart Franchise
• Apollo pharmacy franchise
• Generic Aadhaar Franchise
• Pharmeasy Franchise
• TATA 1 Mg franchise

Conclusion

1.3 billion people are being prevented from leaving their homes due to the pandemic, which is trying to stop the spread of the very contagious COVID-19. There can be no better time than this for the population to see the urgent need for an e-pharmacy in the country.