The Bhagwant Mann government has intensified its crackdown on violations of drug laws, with the Drugs Wing of the Food and Drugs Administration conducting 16,788 inspections between April 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026.
The Punjab government has also raised concerns with the Union health minister over the absence of rules regulating the online sale of medicines through e-pharmacies.
As directed by Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh, regular inspections are being carried out to strengthen enforcement and curb the misuse of medicines, according to an official statement on Thursday. The Punjab government has also raised concerns with the Union health minister over the absence of rules regulating the online sale of medicines through e-pharmacies. The Punjab government has restricted the stocking for sale of eight types of drug formulations in the state. However, the absence of a regulatory framework for online medicine sales continues to pose a challenge to effective enforcement.
“In a significant step towards curbing the misuse of habit-forming medicines, the Government of India has included Pregabalin under Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, through notification G.S.R. 377(E), dated May 13, 2026. The provision will come into force on November 12, 2026,” the statement said. Pregabalin was not previously covered under any Schedule of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, or the Drugs Rules, 1945.
The Punjab government had repeatedly taken up the matter with the Government of India through various communications, seeking regulatory intervention to control its misuse, the statement said. Medicines that can be misused for intoxication remain available online, undermining efforts to curb the misuse of habit-forming medicines, according to the state government. The state government said that no effective steps had been taken by the Centre on this issue until the recent intervention and directions of the Supreme Court, the statement said.
