New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed an amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, to strengthen regulation of advertisements relating to prescription-only medicines.

The proposed amendment seeks to extend the existing requirement of prior Central Government sanction for advertising drugs specified under Schedule H, Schedule H1 and Schedule X to entities holding licences for the sale and distribution of drugs.

The draft amendment has been notified through Gazette Notification GSR 861(E), dated September 28 2026, following consultations with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).

Under the existing regulatory framework, pharmaceutical manufacturers are prohibited from advertising drugs covered u...