https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818242
I have been using pharmeasy for quite some time. your post has put in dilemma of online vs offline 
EXERCISE CAUTION IN ONLINE MEDICINE PURCHASES
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Hey guys, I have completely shifted the medicine purchases for all my family members online given the competitive prices and the convenience. However, we often compare the best offers from multiple sites and make our order, ignoring one critical parameter - business model. I am a potential victim of the same and thus I am writing this awareness post.
Some of the online sellers like 1mg and Apollo Pharmacy, have brick and mortar stores, or warehouses, from which they fulfill the order directly. While others have partnership based fufillment centers like Medlife, and finally, some others like PharmEasy don't own or share any fulfillment centers but rather have tie-ups with local stores to fulfill the orders. The latter are the cases of concern. Since PharmEasy acts as a point of sale, and the actual seller does not face the customer, these sellers have been extensively involved in selling fake drugs, especially expensive, regular and widespread drugs, such as for diabetes and cardiac issues.
In my case, PharmEasy was fulfilling my order (at pin 302039, heart of Jaipur) through a seller called "Sunshine Enterprises" which according to this report: http://businessnewsthisweek.com/business/jaipur... was found to be involved in selling fake life saving drugs. What's shocking is that my order was fulfilled by the same seller AFTER this expose. I'm not sure how the seller got their license back or why PharmEasy didn't severe it's ties. However, in all odds, this is just a drop in the ocean of a widespread practice.
I made a fresh order on PharmEasy, for non critical drugs of course, and found that after a recent update, the order does not mention the name of the seller. I contacted the customer care, wherein they said the order was fulfilled by some "Medidrop Pharma Private Limited", which is again non related to PharmEasy and was incorporated just months ago. Unless PharmEasy has started to sell medicines from their own stores, it makes no sense to remove the name of the actual seller from the order history.
Thus, please consider this factor while making purchases for critical drugs for your loved ones online.
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Top Comments
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818252
Its the rush for more and more discounts .. which leads sellers into wrong / unknown practices , which have unknown/lethal consequences .
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818259
akki.akki wrote:
I have been using pharmeasy for quite some time. your post has put in dilemma of online vs offline
I have been ordering from them too although ordering from tata-mg form sometime. But this definitely raises the concern.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818265
But isn't those enterprises can supply to local stores too which is another concern.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818273
akki.akki wrote:I am in the same situation, my parents are diabetic. The advantages of online purchases are too big to ignore to be honest, with potential savings of thousands/year.
I have been using pharmeasy for quite some time. your post has put in dilemma of online vs offline
Another point is I believe this fraud is at lower level of the chain and there are lesser chances of these apps/websites to be complicit.
Thus, I wouldn't make a case against online purchases completely, but would rather suggest vigilance. Prefer Apollo or 1mg for critical drugs - there's only one middleman involved, and that's a big one. They also sell directly to consumers from the same store, so they are not faceless either.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818277
@iron_gloves : My pin code is too 302039 and ordered many times via pharmeasy. Thanks for highlighting their business model, cant take risk for 5-10 % more discounts, uninstalled pharmeasy from phone.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818303
thanks for sharing, uninstalled the app
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818311
Untill there is a system to check authenticity of drugs you can't be sure even in offline purchase
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818332
I suggest all the medicine selling online platforms / Resellers should clearly indicate whether the seller or company itself is an Authorized Dealer / Distributor / channel partner of the OEM / brand of medicine.
Further i point out an incident- a product listed on amazon was at a very low price than its distributor price. I raised a question on that listing in the QA section of the product.- Whether the seller is an authorized dealer or distributor of the said product. The seller replied "No but we import from OEM's Parent country and sell in India".
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818378
MasterAnimesh wrote:
Untill there is a system to check authenticity of drugs you can't be sure even in offline purchase
True!
Many years back (more than a decade back) saw few brands, manufacturers started putting some code on the medicine packaging.
Back then, they claimed that sending it via SMS or checking on the website helped find out authenticity.
Now there are QR codes and what not.
However, these cross checks too are prone to some false returns.
May be these (cross verification) practices need to be more widespread and commonly adopted by all.
With government mandated, some standardised protocols, process flow to check for genuine supply chain.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818412
Thanks for sharing your concern, especially after this report. https://healthpolicy-watch.news/india-cough-med...
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818416
Bhai. Drug stores don't manufacture drugs. They get supplied by big entities. Recently in Odisha, counterfeit Telma 40, a BP med, was sold in the pharmacies. It was a big scandal here. And trust me Apollo Pharmacy, medplus, 1mg, local stores etc were all equally got hit. And the distributor's license was cancelled. And every druggists' stores were raided by officials and they were required to put warning signs in big bold letters in front of their shops. They even issued full refunds to purchasers of that med.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818418
bikidas2060 wrote:It's alright guys. As long as you have a bill of purchase, you have something in your hand. Don't lose that paper slip guys.Bhai. Drug stores don't manufacture drugs. They get supplied by big entities. Recently in Odisha, counterfeit Telma 40, a BP med, was sold in the pharmacies. It was a big scandal here. And trust me Apollo Pharmacy, medplus, 1mg, local stores etc were all equally got hit. And the distributor's license was cancelled. And every druggists' stores were raided by officials and they were required to put warning signs in big bold letters in front of their shops. They even issued full refunds to purchasers of that med.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818427
Nice highlights.
I searched around this and found -
World's 32.7% medicines are counterfeit.
It's a study by PhD candidate.
I searched around this and found -
World's 32.7% medicines are counterfeit.
It's a study by PhD candidate.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818473
bikidas2060 wrote:Have ordered Telma 40 online for one of my relative number of times. Now I am scared looking at this article. Not sure if this racket has its operations throughout the country or just in the Jaipur region 😗 .Bhai. Drug stores don't manufacture drugs. They get supplied by big entities. Recently in Odisha, counterfeit Telma 40, a BP med, was sold in the pharmacies. It was a big scandal here. And trust me Apollo Pharmacy, medplus, 1mg, local stores etc were all equally got hit. And the distributor's license was cancelled. And every druggists' stores were raided by officials and they were required to put warning signs in big bold letters in front of their shops. They even issued full refunds to purchasers of that med.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818502
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Uhtnas4444 wrote:
Have ordered Telma 40 online for one of my relative number of times. Now I am scared looking at this article. Not sure if this racket has its operations throughout the country or just in the Jaipur region 😗 .
Ask the doc for an alternative. 😔
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818535
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Also, I also regularly buy Telma 20 for a relative, it's a very common drug for BP patients, making it a good candidate for CFM.
Anyways the point is to be aware of where your medicines are coming from, while anything isn't foolproof, some options are safer than others.
Uhtnas4444 wrote:he was talking about Orissa region, I have posted the story for Jaipur, and the quoted article says the distribution agency has presence in Haryana and Punjab. So, the issue is certainly more widespread than you think.
Have ordered Telma 40 online for one of my relative number of times. Now I am scared looking at this article. Not sure if this racket has its operations throughout the country or just in the Jaipur region 😗 .
Also, I also regularly buy Telma 20 for a relative, it's a very common drug for BP patients, making it a good candidate for CFM.
Anyways the point is to be aware of where your medicines are coming from, while anything isn't foolproof, some options are safer than others.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818573
Censuresh wrote:Thanks for sharing your concern, especially after this report. https://healthpolicy-watch.news/india-cough-med...
I still do not understand the chest-thumping (shouting Mera Bharat Mahaan) in light of such repetitive blotches.
As a society, we have accepted to put thieves, immoral people, murderers, rapists, unlawful people on a pedestal... even treating them as revered and celebrities.
And as a country (political nation) we are still amongst THE MOST corrupt where even sich grave offences do not result in one being put to task.
The law makers, allowed those murderer pharmaceutical companies to continue doing the same!😔😠
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818638
Not only online, it's a concern to medicine manufacturers/big distributers Itselfs,even on offline too supplies by these concerns
So, what's the solution?
To lower the cost of the medicines to cost itself (i mean find cheap medicine with same salt with low price)?
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818839
I too shifted to online that too pharmeasy, I am scared now. If the BP tablets are not effective and it can be fatal. Need to check with Apollo store and query them on how they procure.
I have know about the fake drug scams, but never thought these big firms are affected.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818868
how health+ deliver? anyone know? they do have local pharmacy guy tie up who deliver medicine but it come with their packet from warehouse as per that local guy, but not sure if they source medicine themselves or get from other shop
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818894
I use Apollo whenever I can’t visit local pharmacy guy who is a 10-15 yrs old friend too.
He provide 20% discounts and I call him in advance for any specific medicine required. If I’m out of town and my parents needs med, I use Apollo (30%) discount basically for BP, Diabetes, other life saving drugs.
Do you think I should stop using Apollo? I don't know how to compare if the med I received is fake and I don't want to take risk either.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818915
bikidas2060 wrote:I am buying Newtel 40 in mumbai same generic composition of Telma from medical store and some times from generic store for my relative . Is it need to think on it.Bhai. Drug stores don't manufacture drugs. They get supplied by big entities. Recently in Odisha, counterfeit Telma 40, a BP med, was sold in the pharmacies. It was a big scandal here. And trust me Apollo Pharmacy, medplus, 1mg, local stores etc were all equally got hit. And the distributor's license was cancelled. And every druggists' stores were raided by officials and they were required to put warning signs in big bold letters in front of their shops. They even issued full refunds to purchasers of that med.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818920
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818927
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But i think this Telma medicine is mostly given in government hospitals for bp . In market also available
bikidas2060 wrote:Thank you for replying.No no. Just telma brand got affected. 🙂
But i think this Telma medicine is mostly given in government hospitals for bp . In market also available
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818955
I have observed that mrp of the same medicines are higher on 1mg than pharmeasy and so I mostly go with pharmeasy. I am not able to understand why 1mg is selling the drugs with higher mrp.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818970
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818976
This risk exists with both offline and online stores (At least in the case of online pharmacies we get the distributor name through order history / via purchase invoice). Apart from medicines directly sourced from retail chains (say Apollo Pharmacy).. these local stores sell a lot of junk
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/caution-for-online-medicine-purchases?page=1#post_8818991
Chikky wrote:Revised MRP and either 1MG/Pharmeasy is yet to update the listing?
I have observed that mrp of the same medicines are higher on 1mg than pharmeasy and so I mostly go with pharmeasy. I am not able to understand why 1mg is selling the drugs with higher mrp.
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Another point is I believe this fraud is at lower level of the chain and there are lesser chances of these apps/websites to be complicit.
Thus, I wouldn't make a case against online purchases completely, but would rather suggest vigilance. Prefer Apollo or 1mg for critical drugs - there's only one middleman involved, and that's a big one. They also sell directly to consumers from the same store, so they are not faceless either.