Health
Centre proposes mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical stores, invites responses
Surveillance aimed at strengthening monitoring and preventing illegal sale of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed tighter regulatory oversight of certain prescription medicines by introducing mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical stores selling Schedule H, H1 and X drugs.
While Schedule H covers a broad range of prescription medicines, Schedule H1 includes certain drugs requiring additional monitoring and record-keeping. Schedule X covers a more tightly regulated group of medicines.
The proposal is aimed at strengthening monitoring of the sale and distribution of these medicines and preventing their sale without valid prescriptions. However, the proposed CCTV requirement is not yet a law or an enforceable requirement. It is currently part of a draft notification, and the government has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and members of the public before taking the proposal forward.