Ministry of Health proposes rules for online sales of over-the-counter medicines

The draft was published on November 4 on the portal for discussion of regulatory legal acts. Only over-the-counter drugs will be allowed for sale via the internet, while medical devices can be sold according to a list to be approved by the Ministry of Health. Such trade may be carried out by licensed pharmacies and their branches with equipped pickup points: via their own website, mobile app, or under a contract with a marketplace or aggregator.

On the platform, a pharmacy will be required to disclose its details, including its TIN, addresses, and license information, and for each drug: the international nonproprietary name, dosage, shelf life, availability, retail price, trade markup, and generic equivalents. As Anhor.uz notes, the requirement regarding the markup is proposed against the backdrop of the lifting of maximum markups on over-the-counter medicines starting April 1, 2025.

Orders may be delivered by pharmacies or third-party companies under contract; the transport must maintain the conditions specified in the drug package insert. Upon receipt, the buyer has the right to inspect the order and reject it through the courier, or report defects discovered later via the platform. If the customer cannot be contacted, the order can be picked up at the pharmacy within three days.

The Ministry of Digital Technologies will be able to restrict access to websites and apps offering prescription, unregistered, falsified, or unmarked medicines upon request from the Center for Pharmaceutical Products Safety under the Ministry of Health. It is proposed that dangerous and substandard drugs be withdrawn from sale within 24 to 72 hours, depending on the risk level.