No More Online Ads for Prescription Drugs? Govt Proposes Ban on Schedule G, H, H1 and X Medicines

A senior government official elaborated that the plan would ban all online advertising of prescription-only medicines, and hold sellers, wholesalers and distributors accountable for any violations. The draft amendment will soon be placed before the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) for review.

The government has also acknowledged limitations in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, which officials described as outdated and insufficient to regulate misleading drug ads, particularly on digital platforms. Strengthening the drug-advertising framework is therefore seen as essential to safeguarding public health.

Online healthcare platforms have also responded. A senior executive at Tata 1mg stated that the platform does not advertise prescription medicines and restricts promotions to over-the-counter products only. Healthcare experts including Dr Ranjan Shetty, Medical Director at SPARSH Hospitals, stated that the move is “timely and essential,” warning that promotion of high-risk medicines encourages reckless self-medication, delays diagnosis and contributes to antimicrobial resistance.

Legal experts cited by Livemint added that existing gaps in the law are often misused by unscrupulous players to push prescription drugs through disguised or indirect advertising, making stricter rules necessary.