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There is pressing need for third-party, tech-enabled training to enforcement agencies: BDCDA
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
September 11 , 2025
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The Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) has noted that there is a pressing need for third-party, technology-enabled training and capacity-building of enforcement agencies.
Unless these issues are addressed with urgency, the very integrity of our pharmaceutical supply chain stands at risk of collapse, pointed out B Thirunavukkarasu, president, BDCDA.
The rise of antimicrobial resistance, and new-age violations have exposed the urgent need for technology-based training to enforcement authorities. Karnataka itself reflects the weakness where only 8 of 112 sanctioned drug inspector posts are filled leaving the system ill-prepared. Present enforcement mechanisms are not equipped to tackle the digital dimension of crime or regulatory violations. To strengthen oversight, third-party, technology-enabled training programs must be introduced immediately for the enforcement to handle today's digital and social media violations, ensuring regulators are empowered with modern tools to safeguard the integrity of the healthcare supply chain, he added.
Noting that with India advancing towards digital healthcare solutions, illegible prescriptions continue to pose risks and cost lives, he said. Here, for Schedule H and H1 medicines, even a small error can cause grave harm and there is a need to uphold ethical medical practice.
India's 10 lakh retail pharmacies are numerically significant but insufficient for 1.4 billion people due to a skewed distribution that leaves rural areas underserved. The sector is predominantly unorganized, and meeting this demand requires a strategic shift towards a more organized retail framework. This necessitates technological upgradation and awareness to enhance efficiency and competition. By strengthening ethical retail and wholesale channels through better regulation and capacity building, we can address the accessibility gap that has led to the rise of unregulated online sellers, ensuring safe and equitable medicine access, Thirunavukkarasu told Pharmabiz.
Moreover, the threat posed by misleading advertisements is enormous. We have formally complained and requested for a suo motu investigation by the CCI (Competition Commission of India) regarding psychological manipulative campaigns by unregulated online sellers and even large retail chains, he said.
The rapid expansion of unregulated e-pharmacies has created unfair competition for India's traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies, as their deep discounts and circumvention of prescription rules via teleconsultation undermine regulatory compliance and patient safety. However, the solution is not merely stricter regulation for online platforms. The largely unorganized physical pharmacy sector itself requires a strategic shift towards a more organized, technologically upgraded framework. By embracing digital tools and ethical practices, traditional chemists can enhance their efficiency and value, ensuring they remain competitive and continue to provide safe, equitable access to medicines within a legitimized and balanced healthcare ecosystem, he said.
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