Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health has proposed new requirements for the online sale of medicines, including restrictions on eligible products, mandatory disclosures by pharmacies and stricter delivery conditions.
Under the draft amendments, distance sales would be permitted only for over-the-counter medicines and medical equipment included on a list approved by the ministry. The document has been submitted for public discussion.
Only pharmacies holding valid licences and their branches would be allowed to sell these products online. Pharmacies would also be required to provide designated collection points at their physical outlets.
To operate online sales, pharmacies would need their own digital platform, either a website or a mobile application. Alternatively, they could partner with a marketplace or order aggregator under a special agreement.
The draft sets out requirements for information that sellers must disclose on their online platforms. Customers must be able to check a pharmacy's legal name, taxpayer identification number, addresses, contact details and licensing information.
Product listings for medicines would have to include the international non-proprietary name, dosage, instructions for use, expiry date, availability and retail price. Sellers would also be required to disclose their retail mark-up and provide information about available alternatives to medicines and medical products.
Before completing a purchase, customers must be able to review payment and delivery terms, including delivery costs and estimated timeframes.
The proposed amendments also establish requirements for transporting orders. Deliveries could be handled either by pharmacies themselves or by third-party companies engaged under a contract. Vehicles used for transportation would have to be equipped to maintain the storage conditions required for specific products, including temperature and humidity levels.
Medicines would need to be packed in protective packaging to prevent external damage. Products requiring different transportation conditions could not be placed together in a single package without separation. Separate packaging would be required for such products.
Upon receiving an order, customers would be able to inspect the packaging and check the delivered products against their purchase. If the contents do not match the order or the packaging is damaged, customers could refuse the purchase through the courier. The pharmacy would automatically receive notification of the refusal.
If a problem is discovered after delivery has been completed, customers would be able to submit a complaint through the online platform operator.
The complaint would have to specify the product name, batch number, digital labelling code and nature of the identified issue. The platform operator would then be required to forward the information to the pharmacy.
The draft also outlines procedures for cases in which the courier or pharmacy cannot contact the customer. In such circumstances, customers would be able to collect their orders themselves from the pharmacy where the purchase was placed within three days.
Public discussion of the draft amendments will continue until 19 November.
