Mumbai chemists rarely ask for prescriptions, survey finds; FDA acts against 880 licensees

About 71% of consumers surveyed in Mumbai said chemists never or rarely refused to sell medicines without a doctor's prescription, compared with 64% nationally, according to a LocalCircles survey on medicine retail practices. The Mumbai findings were published on September 18, 2026, a day after the national results. They come at a time when the Union government has proposed compulsory CCTV surveillance at medical stores selling prescription drugs, and the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up enforcement against retailers.

Under the Drugs Rules, 1945, medicines listed in Schedules H, H1 and X cannot be supplied without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner. How consistently that rule is followed at the counter is what the survey set out to measure, based on what consumers themselves reported.

The Mumbai survey received more than 20,000 responses across its questions. Of the respondents, 28% said they were assisted by a qualified pharmacist most of the time or always, while 21% said the person helping them was not a qualified pharmacist.

On prescription checks, 36% of 3,697 Mumbai respondents said chemists never refused to give them medicines without a prescription, and another 35% said this happened very rarely. Only 9% said chemists refused such sales most of the time, and 5% said they always did.

The pattern was similar for home deliveries. Of 3,122 respondents, 18% said their chemist never asked for a doctor's prescription during ordering or delivery, and 40% said this happened very rarely. Only 23% said a prescription was sought most of the time or always.

Neighbourhood chemists remain Mumbai's main source of medicines. Of 3,012 respondents, 57% said they visited or sent someone to a local chemist, 26% ordered from their chemist by phone or WhatsApp for home delivery, and 17% mainly used e-pharmacy apps.

The national survey, published on September 17, 2026, drew more than 106,000 responses from consumers in 327 districts and reported similar but somewhat lower levels of non-compliance. Across India, 64% said their chemist never or rarely insisted on a prescription, while 15% said chemists did so most of the time or always. Thirty-one per cent said they were helped by a qualified pharmacist most of the time or always, and 13% said the person assisting them was not qualified. On home delivery, 41% nationally said prescriptions were never or rarely sought, against 58% in Mumbai on the same question.

Both surveys are based on what consumers reported, and not on inspections or verified records, so they indicate perceived practice rather than confirmed violations.

The regulatory push has gathered pace alongside the survey. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued draft amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, proposing mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical stores that supply medicines sold on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner. The draft, notified through Gazette notification G.S.R. 791(E) dated September 8, 2026, proposes a new sub-rule after Rule 65(2). It says retail supply of prescription medicines should take place under CCTV installed and maintained on the premises. The aim is to strengthen oversight of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs and curb sales without valid prescriptions. The government has invited objections and suggestions before the amendment is finalised.

In Maharashtra, the FDA inspected 2,902 drug establishments between June and August 2026, including 2,295 sales establishments and 607 manufacturing units, and initiated action against 880 licensees. Of these, 677 licences were suspended and 203 cancelled, with 740 of the 880 actions involving retailers and wholesalers.

In the same three-month period, the FDA carried out 104 search-and-seizure operations, seized illegal drugs and cosmetics worth Rs 11.41 crore, registered 20 FIRs and made 21 arrests.

FDA inspectors flagged several of the lapses reflected in the consumer survey, including the sale of medicines without supervision by a registered pharmacist, dispensing prescription medicines without valid prescriptions, incomplete Schedule H1 records and sales without proper invoices. Other violations included expired medicines kept in sale stock and inadequate temperature control.