1.Study on the need for a legal framework for e-pharmacies
Ganbadrakh G ; Myagmarsuren B ; Munkhbat S
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences 2026;97(7):200-206
Background:
Driven by the rapid global development of the digital environment, the e-pharmacy market was valued at USD 150.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to expand at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.40% through 2034. While e-pharmacies enhance healthcare accessibility and offer time savings, they also introduce critical risks, including the proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products, irrational non-prescription drug use, and personal data breaches. Despite the rapid growth of the e-pharmacy sector, Mongolia’s legal framework governing these operations remains insufficient compared to international standards. Thus, refining regulatory frameworks to safeguard consumer health and mitigate the risks of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals forms the primary rationale for this study.
Aim:
To define the legal and regulatory needs required to establish a sustainable and secure e-pharmacy framework in Mongolia.
Materials and Methods:
We conducted a comparative analysis of domestic and international legislation, legal acts, regulatory frameworks, and research reports using descriptive and documentary research methodologies.
Results:
Applying the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) evaluation approach to compare international e-pharmacy regulatory frameworks revealed: Singapore and Germany: Achieved an Implemented status across all regulatory domains, including licensing, e-prescribing, delivery standards, data protection, and oversight. South Korea: Demonstrated strong e-prescribing and pharmacist-led controls, but designated online delivery as Not Implemented due to strict legal restrictions. Kazakhstan and Mongolia: Exhibited Partially Implemented statuses across all regulatory indicators, reflecting weak specialized frameworks in Mongolia.
Conclusion
Although e-pharmacy services are advancing rapidly worldwide, legal and regulatory frameworks remain substantially heterogeneous across jurisdictions. Mongolia urgently requires comprehensive regulatory enhancements to guarantee pharmaceutical safety and consumer protection.
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