India, Oct. 10 -- The Union ministry of health and family welfare has proposed tighter curbs on advertising of prescription-only medicines by retailers and wholesalers, according to people familiar with the matter.

To implement the new regulations, the health ministry has proposed an amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, that 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 proposed amendment is intended to strengthen regulatory oversight across the pharmaceutical supply chain, discourage unauthorised promotion of prescription medicines and reduce risks associa...