CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has seized medicines worth ₹20.64 crore and suspended the licences of 520 chemists as part of a crackdown on violations of drug laws between April 2025 and September 2026.The Drugs Wing of the Food and Drugs Administration conducted 16,788 inspections from April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, seizing medicines from 214 licensed and unlicensed firms. The licences of 22 other chemists were cancelled for violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs Rules, 1945.The enforcement drive, being carried out under the directions of Punjab health and family welfare minister Dr Balbir Singh, has also led to legal action against defaulters. A total of 54 court cases were instituted during the period, while 35 cases resulted in convictions and fines. Another 650 cases are under trial in district courts across the state.The state government has also sought tighter regulation of medicines that can be misused for intoxication, including Pregabalin, which was recently brought under Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945.The Government of India issued notification G.S.R. 377(E) on May 13, 2026, bringing Pregabalin under the schedule from November 12, 2026. The drug was not previously covered under any schedule of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, or the Drugs Rules, 1945.Punjab had repeatedly urged the Centre to intervene and introduce regulatory measures to curb the drug’s misuse.The state government has also raised concerns with the Union health minister over the absence of rules governing the online sale of medicines through e-pharmacies. It said medicines liable to misuse for intoxication remained available online, undermining efforts to control the sale of habit-forming drugs.Punjab has restricted the stocking for sale of eight types of drug formulations in the state. However, the government said the lack of a regulatory framework for online medicine sales continued to pose challenges to enforcement.Another concern raised by the state relates to high medicine prices and price differences between products manufactured by different companies despite containing the same active pharmaceutical ingredient, or salt.The Punjab government said no effective steps had been taken by the Centre on the issue until the recent intervention and directions of the Supreme Court.The state government reiterated its commitment to strengthening enforcement of drug laws and taking measures to protect public health.
