Prescription Drugs May Soon Be Sold Under CCTV Surveillance At Pharmacies: Centre
The Centre has proposed CCTV surveillance at licensed retail premises for the sale of prescription medicines. The proposal would require CCTV recordings of prescription-drug sales to be retained for...
The Centre has proposed CCTV surveillance at licensed retail premises for the sale of prescription medicines. The proposal would require CCTV recordings of prescription-drug sales to be retained for at least three months. It is contained in a draft notification issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on September 8, 2026.
Under the proposed amendment, the supply of any drug prescribed by a registered medical practitioner, other than through wholesale dealing, would have to take place under a CCTV surveillance system installed at the licensed premises.
The CCTV systems would need to be properly maintained in a way that allows prescription-drug sales to be verified.
The proposed measure is aimed at curbing the unauthorised sale of prescription medicines, improving monitoring of drug dispensing and increasing accountability at pharmacies and other licensed retail premises. It could also provide greater traceability of prescription-drug sales.
What Does The Gazette Say?
The draft notification seeks to amend Rule 65 of the Drugs Rules, 1945. It proposes that the supply of prescription medicines at licensed retail premises must take place under CCTV surveillance.
The CCTV systems would have to be installed at the licensed premises and properly maintained so that prescription-drug sales can be verified.
The CCTV footage would have to be retained for a minimum of three months. If implemented, the measure could create a visual record of prescription-drug dispensing.
Regulators could potentially use these records to verify whether medicines were supplied against a valid prescription, trace specific transactions and investigate suspected violations.
Wholesale dealers would be excluded from the proposed CCTV requirement.
Government sources have said the proposal is intended to tackle the unauthorised sale of prescription medicines. The proposed system would increase accountability at the point where medicines are dispensed to consumers.
Prescription medicines can sometimes be sold over the counter despite existing regulatory requirements. This can raise concerns about self-medication, inappropriate use and medicines being supplied without adequate medical supervision. There may also be concerns about medicines being given to people for whom they may not be suitable.
Children are a particular concern, as medicines intended for adults may not be appropriate for them. Government sources have highlighted concerns about cough syrups and other medicines being given to children without appropriate medical supervision.
The CCTV records could provide regulators with an additional mechanism to verify transactions and investigate possible violations.
What About Schedule H, H1 And X Drugs?
India’s Drugs Rules already impose prescription-related restrictions on several categories of medicines.
Schedule H, H1 and X medicines are subject to specific requirements. These medicines carry warnings stating that they should not be sold at retail without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.
However, the proposed CCTV provision does not specifically refer to Schedule H, H1 or X medicines.
Instead, the draft uses broader language covering the supply of drugs prescribed by a registered medical practitioner, excluding wholesale dealing.
Therefore, the proposal should not be described as introducing new prescription requirements specifically for Schedule H, H1 and X medicines. Rather, it would introduce an additional CCTV surveillance and record-retention requirement for prescription-based drug supply.
Why Are Cough Syrups In Focus?
The proposal comes at a time when the government is taking a closer look at cough syrups and other syrup medicines.
The Centre has recently introduced stricter requirements for certain syrup medicines that require a doctor’s prescription. This is particularly important when such medicines are given to children.
Medicines for children should be suitable for their age, health condition and required dosage. The government has also raised concerns about people buying and using cough syrups without proper medical advice.
The proposed CCTV rule would cover more than just cough syrups. It is part of a wider effort to ensure that prescription medicines are sold according to the rules.
Is The CCTV Rule In Force Yet?
No. The CCTV rule is not in force yet.
The notification issued on September 8 is a draft proposal, not a final rule. The government has invited people and other stakeholders to submit their suggestions and objections regarding the proposed amendment.
The government will consider the feedback before deciding whether to finalise the rule.
The proposed rule would come into effect only after the government officially notifies it in the final Official Gazette.
This means pharmacies are not currently required to keep three months of CCTV recordings under this proposal.
The government could also make changes to the proposal after considering the feedback received during the consultation process.
What Happens Next?
The government will consider the objections and suggestions received during the consultation period before deciding whether to finalise the proposed amendment.
If the rule is eventually notified in its proposed form, pharmacies and other licensed retail premises supplying prescription medicines may have to install and maintain CCTV systems and retain the recordings for at least three months.
For now, however, the requirement remains a draft proposal and is not yet legally in force.
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