The Union Health Ministry has proposed mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical premises supplying prescription medicines, strengthening monitoring and regulatory oversight.

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• The Union Health Ministry issued a draft notification on September 8, 2026, proposing amendments to Rule 65 of the Drugs Rules, 1945.
• The proposed amendment would require medical premises supplying prescription medicines, excluding wholesale dealers, to install and maintain CCTV surveillance systems.
• CCTV recordings under the proposed framework would need preservation for at least three months to support regulatory monitoring and verification.
• The draft provision broadly covers medicines supplied on prescriptions issued by registered medical practitioners under the existing regulatory framework.
• Schedule H medicines require prescriptions, while Schedule H1 medicines carry stricter record-keeping requirements and include selected antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis medicines.
• Schedule X covers narcotic and psychotropic medicines and remains subject to the strictest sale, storage and record-keeping controls.
• The proposal was examined by the Drugs Consultative Committee and recommended by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board before public consultation.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and members of the public regarding proposed amendments.
• In July 2026, medicinal products containing more than 12 percent ethyl alcohol above 30 mL were brought under Schedule H1 prescription requirements.
• The proposed CCTV framework forms part of wider regulatory measures governing prescription medicines, pharmaceutical sales premises and controlled drug distribution in India.