In a LocalCircles survey published on 18 September 2026, 71 % of more than 20,000 Mumbai respondents said that chemists rarely or never refused to sell medicines without a doctor’s prescription, a figure higher than the 64 % reported nationwide. The study, which focused on neighbourhood medical stores, highlights the prevalence of unregulated sales in the city.
The survey detailed that 36 % of 3,697 respondents reported chemists never refusing prescription‑free sales, while 35 % said they did so very rarely. In home‑delivery scenarios, 18 % of 3,122 respondents noted that no prescription was requested, and another 40 % said it was rarely required. Only 9 % of respondents said chemists refused such sales most of the time.
Consumer assistance also fell short of expectations. Only 28 % of respondents reported being assisted by a qualified pharmacist most of the time or always, while 21 % said the assistant was not a qualified pharmacist. Billing gaps were evident as well: 76 % received a printed GST invoice, 3 % a manually prepared bill, and 20 % received no proper GST bill.
The findings arrive as the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has floated draft amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, proposing mandatory CCTV surveillance in medical stores that supply prescription medicines. The new sub‑rule would require CCTV installation and maintenance at premises selling Schedule H, H1 and X drugs, with the government inviting objections and suggestions before finalising the amendment.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration intensified enforcement between June and August 2026, inspecting 2,902 drug establishments, initiating action against 880 licensees, suspending 677 licences and cancelling 203. The FDA also conducted 104 search‑and‑seizure operations, seized illegal drugs and cosmetics worth Rs 11.41 crore, registered 20 FIRs and made 21 arrests. Common violations included dispensing without a registered pharmacist, selling prescription medicines without valid prescriptions, incomplete Schedule H1 records, expired stock in sale, and inadequate temperature controls for insulin and vaccines.
