From today, drug retailers will be now legally allowed to sell over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to individuals through the Internet, according to a trial regulation issued on the website of State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) on October 8.

Prior to this, the online sale of drugs was prohibited pursuant to a ruling issued on May 28, 2004.

SFDA later issued Certificates for Online Drug Information Service for approved enterprises. But the certificate only allows for the provision of drug information for a fee.

According to the new provision, drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that have online drug dispensing services can apply for a certificate to sell OTC drugs to individuals online.

Only chain drug retailers with licensed pharmacists giving online counseling and consultation, and who have a system of maintaining records of such counseling and consultations will be issued certificates.

But some concerns have been raised about the new ruling.

For one, the quality or authenticity of the drugs cannot be guaranteed. And with so many drugstores dotted all over the city, it begs the question if the online service is really necessary.?

A superintendent with Market Monitoring Department of SFDA said that the new provision is designed to enhance the surveillance of online drug exchanges, and it is good news for those online drug stores with legal licenses and marketing systems.

Dazhaimen Online Drug Store under the Hebei Anguo Pharmacy Group, one of the country's key traditional medicine manufactures, is planning to apply for the certificate, the superintendent of the store told Hangzhou-based Business Daily on October 15.

Not so optimistic was Ren Yan, general manager of Beijing Zhan Chun Tang Pharmacy, who told Chinese Women on November 11: "We will stop our online service of drug selling soon due to a narrow margin of profit. It's no easy job to operate an online drug store, web-building technology, a special office and professional staff to update and maintain the website make it difficult for medium and small-sized enterprises like us."
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Vice Chairman of China Association of Pharmaceutical Commerce, Zhu Changzhi said that the new provision would do more good than harm because it fills a gap for online drug exchange services and, it is hoped, will instill some order to online sales of drugs in general.

"Online sale of OTC drugs to individuals is just a supplement to the existing drug retailing system; it doesn't replace the latter. It also shouldn't affect prices too much," according to Dr. Shi Weigan with the Institute of World Economics and Politics, China Academy of Social Sciences.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, December 1, 2005)