Medical stores may need CCTV surveillance under a new proposal from the Union Health Ministry to strengthen monitoring of prescription medicines.
Medical stores CCTV rule The draft amendment targets the sale and distribution of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs and aims to prevent their unauthorised access and sale.
[[H2: Medical Stores May Need CCTV Under New Drug Rules]]
The Health Ministry has proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945 through a draft Gazette notification dated September 8, 2026.
Under the proposal, CCTV surveillance would be required at licensed medical stores for the supply of prescription drugs other than wholesale transactions.
The proposed requirement is intended to create a verifiable record of medicine sales and strengthen regulatory oversight.
The focus is particularly on Schedule H, H1 and X medicines, which are subject to prescription-related controls.
Why CCTV Surveillance Is Being Proposed
The Health Ministry said the proposal is aimed at addressing concerns over unauthorised access to and sale of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs.
CCTV footage would provide an additional mechanism to monitor transactions carried out at licensed medical stores.
The proposal was first discussed by the Drugs Consultative Committee.
The issue was subsequently considered by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, which recommended approval of the proposal.
According to the draft, CCTV cameras would need to be appropriately positioned at the premises so that medicine sales can be verified.
The recordings would also have to be preserved for three months.
Proposal Is Not Yet a Final Rule
The CCTV requirement is currently a proposal and has not yet become a final rule.
The Health Ministry has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and members of the public on the draft amendment.
The proposal would apply to licensed medical stores, while wholesale transactions are outside the proposed CCTV requirement.
The final scope and implementation will depend on the outcome of the regulatory process.
The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen monitoring of prescription and controlled medicines across the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The Drugs Consultative Committee has also discussed measures for tracking and tracing medicines regulated under the NDPS framework.
What Medical Store Owners Need to Know
If the amendment is finalised in its proposed form, medical stores will need to maintain CCTV surveillance at their licensed premises and preserve the required recordings.
The precise compliance requirements will become clear after the government completes the rule-making process.
For now, the proposal does not create an immediate nationwide CCTV mandate for medical stores. The government is still considering feedback before deciding on the final amendment.
