Table 2.

Pros and cons of e-pharmacy in India.

Pros	Cons
Improved access: Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.	No patient-pharmacist interaction: Lack of medical supervision or availability of registered pharmacists to answer essential questions through questionsa.
The convenience of doorstep delivery: important for debilitated and older people, useful in pandemic conditions.	Risk of getting counterfeit, substandard, or incorrect medicines.
Offers anonymity to patients: Less intimidation while obtaining drugs for embarrassing health conditionsa.	Concerns about privacy and confidentiality of personal informationa.
Availability of drug-related information on the websitea.	It may not be feasible for technology-naïve or illiterate peoplea.
Price comparisons are easy with searchable databasesa.	Risk of misuse especially by using rogue pharmacies leading to adverse drug reactions or substance abuse.
Medicines can be offered at a considerably low cost.	Many rogue pharmacies provide drugs without valid prescriptions.
Can provide better access to medicines in remote and rural areas.	Lack of a national accreditation body to distinguish between authentic and rogue pharmaciesa.
Potentially beneficial for chronic diseases to improve compliance with medicinesa.	Lack of awareness about e-pharmacies among physicians and the general publica.
Ensured drug availability due to central stocks.	Limited participation by third-party payers.

^aThese factors are specific to e-pharmacies.