Quick-commerce platforms are delivering prescription medicines within minutes, with some offering doctor-on-call services to generate digital prescriptions. While consumers welcome the convenience, pharmacists and public health experts warn of rubber-stamp consultations, self-medication, antimicrobial resistance and regulatory accountability concerns
The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) inspected 166 medical shops linked to online pharmacies during a special enforcement drive. Show-cause notices were issued to 41 shops for violations including dispensing medicines without prescriptions, lack of proper records, and absence of pharmacist supervision.
Chemists and druggists across Telangana joined a nationwide strike against online pharmacies, alleging unfair practices and lack of regulation. While standalone medical shops shut down, hospital-attached pharmacies, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and large chains like Apollo and MedPlus continued operations.
