Govt moves to stop pharmacy ads for Mounjaro, Ozempic and other prescription drugs

The Union government has proposed an amendment to the drug rules to strengthen regulation of advertisements relating to prescription-only medicines by pharmacies and wholesalers.

Under the existing norms in the Drugs Rules, 1945, while drugmakers are barred from advertising medicines which are specified under schedules H, H1 and X – the drugs that can be dispensed only with a doctor’s prescription, the same does not explicitly cover retailers, distributors and wholesalers.

This anomaly, according to sources in the government, means that no action can be taken against pharmacies advertising several blockbuster medicines – which in recent times have included GLP-1-based drugs such as Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy – and offering discounts on them.

GLP-1 based medicines, originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes are now also indicated for weight-loss and their market has grown exponentially in India over the last several months.

The Centre said that the draft amendment has been notified through September 28 following consultations with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) of the Central Drugs Safety and Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

“The proposed amendment is intended to strengthen regulatory oversight across the pharmaceutical supply chain, discourage unauthorised promotion of prescription medicines and reduce risks associated with inappropriate self-medication,” said the Union health ministry in a statement.

Some



doctors said this was a much-needed move.

“It is highly possible that patients get influenced by the advertisements and forget the importance of getting the correct prescription, dosage, and side effects information,” said Dr Reshu Agarwal, internal medicine specialist with Yathartha Super Speciality Hospital in Noida.

Prescription drugs should only be consumed under the supervision of doctors as the requirements differ from individual to individual, Dr Agarwal said.

Close monitoring of such advertisements can go a long way in making sure that no misleading claims are made, the clinician also added.

The measure is expected to reinforce safeguards relating to medicines that require appropriate medical supervision, including certain antibiotics, psychotropic medicines and other prescription-only drugs.

The proposal follows the recommendations of the 93rd meeting of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, held on 16 February 2026, which considered the need for appropriate provisions governing advertisements by drug sale and distribution licence holders.

The Ministry has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and members of the public within 30 days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing the draft rules are made available to the public.

“Submissions received within the prescribed period will be considered by the Central Government before finalisation of the amendment,” said the ministry.