DDA warns against operating online pharmacies

KATHMANDU, MARCH 28: The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has instructed not to operate online pharmacies. Director General of the Department, Narayan Prasad Dhakal, said that he ordered the disclosure of online pharmacies after the online pharmacies were found to sell medicines through false and misleading advertising.

According to Dhakal, no pharmacies had obtained a permit from the Department to run online pharmacies so far and drugs were being sold illegally offering discounts in the name of online pharmacies through social networking sites.

He explained that drugs were being sold in the name of online pharmacies with deceptive marketing gimmicks. The Drugs Act-2034 BS’s Clause 19 mandates that there should not be false and misleading advertising of medicines.