|
 The Karnataka Pharma Retailers & Distributors Organization (KPRDO) has called on PhonePe to reconsider decision of selling medicines through the PhonePe PINCODE App.
In a communication to Sameer Nigam, managing director, co-founder and CEO, PhonePe, KPRDO president C Jayaram, and secretary VV Kapparshettar said that from a social media advertisement, it was gathered that PhonePe is launching 24×7 medicine delivery through its PINCODE App which is its e-commerce platform a 10 minutes delivery service in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Pune.
Our request now is to re-evaluate this decision to venture into 24×7 medicine delivery services. As a long-standing partner of PhonePe, the standalone pharmacy outlets of retail and wholesalers who have supported PhonePe UPI (unified payment interface) app are concerned about this new development, they added.
There are some points, which will impact our long-standing relationship. First, there will be a conflict of interest. By entering the medicine delivery market, PhonePe may be seen as competing with its own partners, potentially disrupting the business of pharmacies that have contributed to its growth, said Jayaram and Kapparshettar.
Second, there will be an impact on partnerships. If PhonePe continues with this venture, pharma retailers and wholesalers might reconsider their partnership with the app and explore alternative UPI options, potentially affecting PhonePe's user base and growth.
Third, is to do with regulatory compliance. Medicine delivery involves complex regulatory requirements; PhonePe's PINCODE App entry into this space may raise concerns about compliance and public health safety, said Jayaram and Kapparshettar.
Further, KPRDO also highlighted the interim injunction granted by Delhi High Court to stop online sales of medicines with immediate effect via writ petition, WP(C)11711/2018 & CM APPL 45307/2018. As per this order selling medicines online will be illegal in nature, they pointed out.
In light of these concerns, we hope that PhonePe will concentrate on enhancing financial services and features that benefit users and partners alike. It should support standalone pharmacy outlets and allow them to continue their business without competition from PhonePe's PINCODE App medicine delivery services, said Jayaram and Kapparshettar.
Another aspect of online is the supply of medicines with no prescription. Converting an unjustified demand of medicine into a justified one through teleconsultation is shady and provides for misuse of habit-forming drugs, antibiotics and schedule H medicines leading to anti-microbial resistance and many social problems in society, they noted.
On a concluding note KPRDO said that if this issue is not addressed, the movement against PhonePe's medicine delivery services in Karnataka may spread to other parts of India, because many associations across the country follow its footsteps, which may affect the App's overall reputation and user base. Hence, we hope for a positive response from PhonePe to stop the sale of medicines through the App which is illegal in nature, said Jayaram and Kapparshettar.
|