Health Ministry Proposes CCTV Surveillance at Medical Stores

The Union Health Ministry has proposed mandatory installation of CCTV cameras at medical stores as part of amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, to strengthen oversight of the sale of prescription drugs. 

The proposed amendment seeks to prevent unauthorised access to and sale of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs without valid prescriptions. The ministry issued a draft Gazette notification, dated September 8, proposing the changes. 

The proposal was first deliberated by the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) and was subsequently



circulated among members of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) for consideration.

Following deliberation, the DTAB recommended approval of the proposal. The mandatory CCTV surveillance is being proposed as an additional regulatory safeguard to strengthen monitoring of the sale and distribution of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs at medical stores. 

The ministry said the measure is expected to help curb unauthorised sale and access to such medicines and improve transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical supply chain.