In short: Schedule H medicines carry the Rx symbol and may be sold only on a doctor’s prescription. Schedule H1 medicines, mostly newer antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis drugs, also carry a red-bordered warning box, and the chemist must record the patient, the prescriber and the drug sold in a register kept for three years. Schedule X medicines, the most tightly controlled, carry XRx and the chemist keeps a copy of the prescription.
Schedule H
Most prescription medicines in India are Schedule H. Their labels carry the symbol Rx at the top left and a warning that they are to be sold by retail only on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner, and only in the quantity prescribed. Nearly every specialty medicine we distribute — chemotherapy, biologics, transplant drugs — falls here or under stricter schedules.
Schedule H1
Schedule H1 was introduced in 2013 to curb the misuse of antibiotics, anti-tuberculosis drugs and some other medicines. Labels carry a boxed warning with a red border. The chemist must keep a separate register recording the patient’s name, the prescribing doctor’s name and address, and the name and quantity of the medicine supplied, and keep it for three years. Regulators add drugs to H1 from time to time, so check the current list.
Schedule X
Schedule X covers certain narcotic and psychotropic medicines. Labels carry XRx; the retailer keeps a copy of the prescription, and wholesalers need a separate licence (Form 20G) to deal in them.
What this means when you order from us
- Hospitals, chemists and distributors: we verify your drug licence before the first supply, and every invoice carries batch numbers and expiry dates for your own records.
- Patients: we supply prescription medicines only against a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner, and we never substitute a medicine without the prescriber’s approval.
Quick answers
- Can I buy a Schedule H medicine without a prescription?
- No. Schedule H medicines may be sold only on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner, in the quantity prescribed.
- How long must a chemist keep the Schedule H1 register?
- Three years. It records the patient’s name, the prescriber’s name and address, and the name and quantity of the medicine supplied.
Sources
This guide is general information for healthcare professionals, procurement teams and patients, not medical, legal or regulatory advice. Rules change; confirm with the relevant authority.