A Survey of Drugs Sold by Drugstores Physically Located at Muang District, Chiang Mai Province through an Online Application by Having the Staff of Platform Provider Buy Drugs Onsite from Drugstores and Deliver to Consumers

Abstract

Objective: To compile names and legal standing of drug items sold by pharmacies physically located at Mueang District, Chiang Mai through online application by having the staff of platform provider buy drugs onsite from drugstores and deliver to consumers (buying agent), and to suggest strategies for regulating such drug distribution to comply with the law. Method: This research was a mixed method study. A cross-sectional study was conducted during May 11 to June 6, 2023 to survey names and legal classification of medications sold by pharmacies located at Mueang Chiang Mai District through an online application by having the staff of platform provider act as an onsite buying agent for consumers. Qualitative research aimed to identify strategies for resolving this problem by conducting in-depth interviews with 12 key informants individually including experts in public health policy and law, community pharmacists, and lay people. Three key informants including two practitioners in consumer protection and public health pharmacy and one lawyer of the health region participated in focus group discussion. Results: There were 56 drugstores in Mueang district, Chiangmai selling medications through online application by having the platform provider act as an onsite buyer for consumers. Among 2,575 identified medications, 4 (0.19%), 209 (8.12%), 693 (26.91%) and 1,668 (64.78%) were legally classified as specifically controlled drugs, dangerous drugs, household drugs, and non-specially controlled or dangerous drugs, respectively. Strategies to resolve the problem suggested by the informants included amending the law to be consistent with changes in public’s access to medicine, classifying medicines according to their risk and allowing certain medicines with low risk to be sold through online, requiring history taking and drug dispensing by a pharmacist, establishing a national surveillance system for online drug pharmacies and educating the public on the issue. Conclusion: The majority of medications available from pharmacies physically located at Mueang District, Chiang Mai through on online application with the staff of platform provider acting as an onsite buyer for consumers was non-specially controlled or dangerous drugs. There is a need for amending the regulation for controlling distribution channels of medications and online drug advertising sales and determining appropriate practices for patient safety.