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Administrative Public Interest Litigation Case Regarding the Rectification of Disguised Sales of Prohibited Online Medicines in the Form of False Online Consultations

Administrative Public Interest Litigation Case Regarding the Rectification of Disguised Sales of Prohibited Online Medicines in the Form of False Online Consultations

In a significant regulatory development, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate has moved against the online sale of controlled medicines conducted through so-called “fake consultations” on e-commerce platforms. Investigations revealed that certain clinics employed automated Q&A systems to simulate medical consultations, enabling the dispensing of medicines without genuine clinical assessment, diagnosis, or professional oversight. Leveraging big data analytics and simulated transaction testing, authorities concluded that the substance of these arrangements was commercial drug sales rather than legitimate healthcare services. The case underscores a growing enforcement focus on digital health compliance and confirms that such conduct falls primarily within the remit of market regulators, with health authorities providing coordinated supervision.