Hydroxychloroquine now a schedule H1 drug

News: The government has notified hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, under Schedule-H1 to regulate and restrict the sale and distribution of the drug.

Facts:

Classification of Drugs in India: The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, provides for classification of drugs into different schedules.

ScheduleFeatures
Schedule H1Aims to check the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, anti-TB and some other drugs.Cannot be sold without a valid prescription.
Package of the drugs has a mandatory warning printed in a box with a red colour border.
Schedule HCannot be sold without a valid prescription.
Labels of any Schedule H drug must display the text “Rx” on the top left corner of the label
Schedule XLabels of any Schedule X drug must display the text “XRx” on the top left corner of the label.
Includes narcotic and psychotropic substances-based drugs.Cannot be sold without a valid prescription.
Drug retailer has to preserve the copy of the prescription for two years