NEW DELHI, February 17 — The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has raised serious concerns over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to create fake medical prescriptions, enabling the illegal online sale of antibiotics, psychotropic drugs, opioids, and Schedule H and X medicines.
AIOCD President J. S. Shinde and General Secretary Rajiv Singhal said a recent media investigation, including reports in a prominent newspaper, revealed that AI-generated prescriptions containing fabricated hospital details were being accepted by certain online platforms.
The organization stated that illegal e-pharmacies are misusing Government Notifications GSR 817(E) and GSR 220(E) to bypass safeguards under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies, online platforms lack effective human verification systems, making it nearly impossible to detect AI-generated fake prescriptions, AIOCD said.
The group has urged the government to immediately withdraw GSR 817(E) and GSR 220(E), shut down illegal e-pharmacies, and declare AI-generated prescriptions invalid nationwide to safeguard public health.
Earlier last month, AIOCD urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action against illegally operating e-pharmacies. The organization expressed concern over the unchecked sale of antibiotics without valid prescriptions, warning that such practices accelerate antimicrobial resistance and pose a grave threat to public health.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s recent “Mann Ki Baat” address, in which he emphasized the need to curb the unchecked sale of antibiotics, AIOCD cited findings by the Indian Council of Medical Research indicating a national health emergency. According to the findings, commonly used antibiotics for pneumonia and urinary tract infections are becoming increasingly ineffective due to indiscriminate use and self-medication.
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