Researchers ask for regulations to improve the safety of medicines through e-pharmacies in India and Kenya

Researchers from the George Institute for Global Health, with employees of the Strathmore Business School in Kenya and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, investigate the fast-growing e-pharmacy sector in India and Kenya.

Findings of their research, recently published in Plos Global Public HealthEmphasize opportunities to improve the safety of the consumer in the ecosystem of digital health care and to underline the need for a robust regulatory framework to guarantee the safety and quality of care in these fast -growing markets.

E-pharmacies, with which consumers can buy medicines for prescription via websites and mobile apps, are becoming increasingly prominent in countries with low and middle income. The sector has grown in India and Kenya, with companies that adapt to local market needs and regulatory environments.

The research team identified the e-phharmacies that are active in India and Kenya and assessed their websites and apps and led them against existing legal requirements and international best practices. The research identifies strengths and improvement areas to promote better consumer and industrial results.

The research shows significant strengths at e-pharmacies, with 90% of e-pharmacy websites in India and 58% in Kenya offers an option to upload recipes. This function prevents the sale of medicines on prescription without correct authorization, as a means to guarantee safe and responsible pharmacy practices.

The study also emphasizes opportunities for improvements, such as improving the provision of drug information to stimulate consumer safety and confidence. From now on, only 16% of Indian e-pharmacies and 42% of those in Kenya offer complete drug information (such as side effects, interactions between medicines and contraindications).

India currently has no regulatory framework that is specific to e-pharmacy, but in the past has been proposed. The research indicates that e-pharmacies with more website visitors tend to show better compliance with best practices or “proposed regulations” in India. The most visited websites met 8.7 out of 14 (62%) best practices/proposed regulations, compared to other websites that paid 51% thereof. In Kenya, which has set specific requirements for e-pharmacy, websites met an average of 8.9 out of 12 (74%) legal requirements.

In order to build on these strengths and tackle the gaps, the researchers argue for a “risk-based” regulatory framework that encourages supervisors to constructively participate in conforming e-pharmacies, creating opportunities that support best practices while The partially conforming helps to improve compliance. The researchers suggest that regulators and e-pharmacy can work together to create rules that promote safety and quality and improve the accessibility and affordability of medicines.

“E-pharmacies can be great aids to improve access to medicines. However, the lack of regulations for e-pharmacities is risks. There is a need to create a reliable e-pharmacy environment in which patients have confidence access to confidence Until the medicines they need, “said Dr. Mohammad Abdul Salam, a senior researcher, who co -led this research.

The research emphasized that many e-pharmacy platforms also offer teleconsultations with doctors and diagnostic services, which reflects the trend to integrated digital healthcare. The researchers note that as digital health care expands, legal frameworks have to evolve to tackle new care models. The role of technology in this sector was another focus of the research. Mobile apps are becoming an increasingly important channel for access to e-pharmacies, especially in India, where digital acceptance is high.

The global e-pharmacy market is expected to grow from USD 92 billion in 2023 to more than USD 350 billion in 2033, with emerging markets such as India and Kenya play a crucial role.

A follow-up assessment a year later showed that the E-Pharmacy market of India had grown from 61 to 76 websites, while the Kenya market expanded from 26 to 28. The increase was largely powered by local companies, with some international platforms the leave the market.

Dr. Gautam Sataesh, research fellow of the George Institute for Global Health, said: “E-pharmaces have an enormous scope for improvement to become a trusted source for patients to gain access to prescribed medicines for a healthier future for communities, especially in Countries such as India and Kenya, where guaranteeing continuous access to high quality and affordable medicines for many remains a challenge.