Punjab cracks down on drug law violations, seizes medicines worth Rs 20.64 crore

The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has intensified its enforcement of drug laws, conducting 16,788 inspections across the state between April 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, and seizing medicines worth Rs 20.64 crore from 214 licensed and unlicensed firms. During the 18-month period, the Drugs Wing of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) suspended the licences of 520 chemists and cancelled those of another 22 for violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs Rules, 1945.

According to an official statement issued on Thursday, the inspections were carried out on the directions of Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh as part of efforts to strengthen regulatory enforcement and prevent the misuse of medicines, particularly habit-forming pharmaceutical formulations. The action covered licensed establishments as well as firms operating without the required authorisation, with officials examining compliance with statutory provisions governing the stocking, sale and distribution of medicines.

The government said 54 court cases were instituted against defaulters during the period under review, while 35 cases resulted in convictions and fines. A total of 650 cases relating to violations of drug laws are currently under trial in various district courts across Punjab. The figures reflect the scale of enforcement activity undertaken by the state authorities, although the statement did not specify how many of the convictions related to cases filed during the same 18-month period.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Punjab government highlighted the Centre's decision to include Pregabalin under Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, as an important development in efforts to prevent the misuse of habit-forming medicines. The inclusion was notified through G.S.R. 377(E), dated May 13, 2026, and will come into effect on November 12, 2026.

Pregabalin, a prescription medicine commonly used to treat neuropathic pain and certain neurological conditions, has raised concerns among enforcement authorities because of its potential for misuse. According to the state government, the medicine was previously not included under any schedule of the Drugs Rules, creating difficulties in regulating its distribution and preventing inappropriate access.

The government said it had repeatedly written to the Centre seeking regulatory intervention to address the misuse of Pregabalin. Its inclusion under Schedule H1 will subject the medicine to stricter requirements governing prescription-based sales and record-keeping, providing drug inspectors with an additional mechanism to monitor its distribution.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀

The Punjab government has also raised concerns with the Union Health Ministry over what it described as the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework for the online sale of medicines through e-pharmacies. It argued that medicines susceptible to misuse remain accessible through online platforms, potentially undermining restrictions imposed on physical pharmacies and conventional medicine distributors.

The state has already restricted the stocking for sale of eight categories of drug formulations as part of its measures against the misuse of habit-forming medicines. However, it maintained that restrictions imposed within Punjab could be less effective if the same medicines remained accessible through online sellers operating outside the state's conventional inspection and enforcement mechanisms.

The government has sought intervention from the Centre to address these regulatory concerns, pointing to the need for consistent oversight of both offline and online medicine distribution. The issue is particularly significant because enforcement against illegal or inappropriate sales increasingly requires coordination across state boundaries and between different regulatory authorities.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀

Apart from the misuse of pharmaceutical products, the Mann government has taken up the issue of substantial variations in medicine prices, including differences between products manufactured by different companies despite containing the same active pharmaceutical ingredient or salt.

The state government said it had raised the matter with the Centre, arguing that excessive prices and significant differences between comparable formulations placed an additional financial burden on patients. It maintained that effective action had not been taken by the Union government until the recent intervention and directions of the Supreme Court.

The issue of medicine pricing has broader implications for affordability and access to healthcare, particularly for patients requiring long-term treatment. While different brands of medicines may contain the same active ingredient, their retail prices can vary considerably, making price transparency and regulatory oversight important considerations for consumers.

The Punjab government reiterated that it would continue taking measures to strengthen drug law enforcement, address the misuse of habit-forming medicines and pursue regulatory changes at the national level. It said the objective was to protect public health through regular inspections, action against violators and closer scrutiny of medicine distribution practices.

The enforcement figures also underline the continuing challenge facing drug regulators in Punjab. While inspections, seizures and licence cancellations provide immediate tools for addressing violations, the state government's concerns over online sales, pharmaceutical pricing and the regulation of specific medicines indicate that several issues require action beyond the jurisdiction of state authorities.