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Government Tightens Drug Rules : Pharmacies May Have to Preserve CCTV for 3 Months
NewDelhi : Buying prescription medicines over the counter could soon become much harder as the government moves to tighten monitoring of medicine sales, with licensed retail pharmacies potentially required to install CCTV cameras and preserve recordings for three months. The proposed changes are aimed at ensuring that prescription-only medicines, including certain cough syrups, are sold only against a valid doctor’s prescription and are not freely dispensed over the counter.
The move comes amid concerns that some cough syrups are being misused for intoxication and that medicines formulated for adults are sometimes being given to children without appropriate medical supervision. Under the proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, licensed retail medicine shops would have to install CCTV cameras covering the sale and supply of prescription medicines, while the recordings would need to be retained for three months. The requirement is proposed for retail outlets and would not apply to wholesale sales, according to the draft provisions.
The government has also stressed that prescription medicines are frequently sold directly across pharmacy counters without adequate verification, and the proposed monitoring system is intended to make the supply chain more accountable and traceable. The tighter rules are particularly significant for cough syrups, as authorities seek to prevent their unauthorised sale and misuse. Under the proposal, pharmacies would be expected to verify prescriptions before supplying medicines covered by the prescription requirement, creating a stronger record of who purchased such medicines and when.
The government has invited objections and suggestions for 30 days before finalising the proposed amendments. If implemented, the new framework could bring a major change to the way prescription medicines are sold at retail pharmacies, with CCTV records potentially becoming an important tool for regulatory inspections and enforcement. Officials say the broader objective is to improve accountability in medicine distribution, strengthen oversight of prescription-drug sales and reduce the possibility of medicines being supplied without proper medical advice.
Mudasir Maqbool
