Abstract
Objectives: The objectives of the study were as follows: 1) To analyze the completeness of drug-related information of various Indian pharmacy online android applications and its readability. 2)To analyze the ease of availability of drugs and barriers to access them on these apps.
 Methods: A total of five popular pharmacy android apps in India (1mg, Netmeds, MedPlus, Pharmeasy, and Medikova) were chosen to analyze the prescribing information (PI) regarding five drugs, metformin, atenolol, ranitidine, ibuprofen, and alprazolam. Display of PI in these apps was compared with standard sources, i.e., National Formulary of India, Current Index of Medical Specialties, and package inserts of respective drugs. Drug-related information under 11 categories (indication, dose, contraindications, adverse events, etc.) was analyzed in these apps as complete/ incomplete. Readability of information was assessed using Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES). These five drugs were ordered from all the apps to know the exact process to access them.
 Results: Categories such as indication and dose were mentioned in most apps. While, precautions and adverse events were given for few drugs in few apps. Least score was for categories like precautions in special population. FRES was minimum in Pharmeasy (30.82) and maximum in MedPlus (70.51). Valid prescriptions were demanded by all apps while one app had the facility of providing prescription from their own consultant. Only one app provided “Ask a Pharmacist” option.
 Conclusion: We found lots of inconsistency in the information provided by these apps. Our results are based on only five apps and provide a framework for future studies to scrutinize online apps.
Highlights
Online pharmacies are internet-based vendors that sell prescription as well as non-prescription medicines through online portals such as websites and mobile applications [1]
With the advancement of technology, e-commerce emerged and opened another arena for vendors to market and sell their products [2]. Subsequent to this there was a boost in online shopping which became hassle free through the introduction of newer age smartphones
Online pharmacies have been successful in attracting a growing number of customers with their convenient home delivery services, 24 × 7 accessibility, lucrative deals, low transaction, and product cost, but such direct procurement of drugs could be hazardous as it would be difficult to determine whether the drugs are counterfeit, unapproved, or illegal [3]
Summary
Online pharmacies are internet-based vendors that sell prescription as well as non-prescription medicines through online portals such as websites and mobile applications [1]. With the advancement of technology, e-commerce emerged and opened another arena for vendors to market and sell their products [2]. The laws applicable for regulating the sales of drugs in India are the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945; Pharmacy Act, 1948; and the Indian Medical Act, 1956, which mention the guidelines on the sale of Schedule H and Schedule X medicines (restrictive medicines). These laws do not permit home delivery of drugs and drugs can be sold only on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner. These laws are not well defined for online pharmacies and are subject to varied interpretations
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