The Union Health Ministry has proposed amending the Drugs Rules, 1945, to require CCTV surveillance at licensed retail premises where prescription medicines are supplied, as part of efforts to curb unauthorised access and sale of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs.
The draft Gazette Notification G.S.R. 791(E), dated September 8, 2026, proposes that CCTV footage be preserved for at least three months, while wholesale transactions would remain outside the proposed requirement.
The ministry said the move is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability and regulatory oversight. The proposal follows deliberations by the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) and consideration by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), which recommended its approval.
It is, however, not yet a final rule; the government has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and the public before deciding on the final amendment.
CCTV At The Counter
Under the proposed amendment, a new sub-rule, 2A, would be inserted under Rule 65 of the Drugs Rules. It states that the supply of a drug prescribed by a Registered Medical Practitioner, other than through wholesale dealing, would have to take place under a CCTV system installed and maintained at the licensed premises.
The recordings would have to be retained for a minimum of three months. The Health Ministry said the proposed surveillance mechanism would provide an additional regulatory safeguard and help improve “transparency and accountability” across the pharmaceutical supply chain.
It said the measure is expected to strengthen monitoring of the sale and distribution of Schedule H, H1 and X medicines and help curb their unauthorised sale without valid prescriptions. The proposal was first considered by the DCC and subsequently circulated among DTAB members, following which the DTAB recommended its approval.
The proposal comes amid continuing concerns over compliance with prescription requirements at medical stores. A nationwide LocalCircles survey cited by India Today found that 64% of 15,561 respondents said their local chemist never or rarely asked for a doctor’s prescription when buying medicines over the previous 12 months.
The survey also found that only 31% of respondents said they received assistance from a qualified pharmacist most of the time or always. Another 26% said they did not receive a GST bill when purchasing medicines. While the survey does not establish the scale of illegal sales across the entire pharmacy sector, it highlights gaps in prescription checks and other retail practices.
Why These Drugs Matter
Schedule H, H1 and X medicines are already subject to tighter controls under India’s drug regulations. Schedule H medicines generally require a prescription from a Registered Medical Practitioner for retail sale. Schedule H1 medicines have additional record-keeping requirements, while Schedule X drugs are subject to stricter prescription and documentation controls.
The proposed CCTV requirement would therefore not introduce prescription requirements for these medicines; instead, it would add a visual record to an existing system based on prescriptions, registers, invoices and inspections.
The DCC had already considered making CCTV installation mandatory at medical stores earlier this year. Its March 2026 deliberations followed a proposal from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights concerning a joint action plan involving a mobile-based information system and CCTV installation at medical shops. The committee agreed that CCTV installation could be made mandatory through an amendment to the Rules.
The wording of the draft also warrants attention. While the government’s announcement specifically highlights Schedule H, H1 and X drugs, the proposed Rule 65(2A) refers more broadly to the retail supply of any drug supplied on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner, other than wholesale dealing.
This means the precise scope of the final requirement will depend on the version ultimately notified by the government. The draft also makes clear that the amendment will take effect only from a date specified by the government when the final rules are published.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Ensuring that prescription medicines are sold responsibly is ultimately about protecting patients, particularly when inappropriate access to medicines can contribute to misuse, unsafe self-medication and wider public-health concerns.
At the same time, stronger enforcement should go hand in hand with safeguards for patients’ privacy, clear rules on who can access CCTV footage, secure handling of recordings and practical support for small medical stores. Cameras can document a transaction, but they cannot replace qualified pharmacists, valid prescriptions, proper record-keeping and effective inspections.
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