The initiative comes against the backdrop of rising regulatory action on medicine quality. According to data released by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, 1,879 drug samples were declared Not of Standard Quality in 2025, more than double the 877 samples reported in 2024. The increase has prompted the national regulator to tighten sampling and reporting procedures. Monthly regulatory alerts have covered widely prescribed medicines, including antibiotics, cardiovascular medicines, anti-diabetic medicines, injectables, as well as spurious and counterfeit batches. Authorities have clarified that each finding relates only to the specific batches tested rather than the broader pharmaceutical market. Nevertheless, the increasing number of quality alerts has heightened public concern over how medicines are evaluated before reaching patients.
The growing regulatory attention reflects an existing challenge surrounding public confidence in generic medicines. A peer-reviewed clinical pharmacology study published in 2025 found that many patients continue to question the safety and effectiveness of generic medicines, particularly in oncology and cardiovascular treatment. The study identified inconsistent communication and limited visibility into manufacturing standards as major factors affecting patient trust.
Medkart Pharmacy stated that its Medkart Assured program was designed specifically to address these concerns through a structured quality assurance process. Under the program, procurement is aligned with Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which establishes Good Manufacturing Practice standards for pharmaceutical manufacturing. The company independently audits manufacturing facilities operated by its partner manufacturers, while every medicine undergoes mandatory dual testing at National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited third-party laboratories. Products receive the Medkart Assured certification only after successfully meeting all prescribed quality requirements, with the certification displayed both in physical stores and on the company's digital platform.
In addition to laboratory verification, Medkart has trained its pharmacists to explain quality standards to customers, address concerns regarding generic medicines, and assist patients in making informed decisions. The company's application also provides a comparison tool designed to help consumers evaluate available medicine options.
Expanding the program further, Medkart has announced plans to publish a comprehensive Medkart Assured Quality and Transparency Report. The report will disclose the total number of medicine batches tested, the percentage of batches rejected, the therapeutic categories examined, and the testing protocols followed. According to the company, such public disclosure by a pharmacy retailer remains uncommon in India and is intended to promote greater accountability and encourage higher quality standards across the pharmaceutical sector.
"We do not ask patients to trust us—we show them why they can. Independent audits, two rounds of third-party testing, and only then the Medkart Assured tag. We would rather publish our rejection rate than hide behind a logo," said Parasharan Chari, Co-founder of Medkart Pharmacy.
Commenting on the broader industry challenge, Ankur Agarwal, Co-founder of Medkart Pharmacy, said, "The country is rightly worried about medicine quality. The answer is not to fear generic medicines—it is to demand proof. We are putting our proof on the table and inviting everyone to raise the bar with us."
Medkart emphasized that its transparency initiative is intended to establish higher quality benchmarks for the pharmacy retail sector rather than serve as a judgment on any manufacturer or competitor. The company maintained that affordability and medicine safety should never be treated as competing priorities and asserted that transparent quality verification remains the most effective way to strengthen public confidence in generic medicines.
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