PCA Discontinues Sales of All Habit-Forming Drugs

October

2026

After anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota's murder, Panjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh—himself a medical doctor—warned that action would be taken against pharmacies found violating prescription and sale regulations. The minister said the Health Department was keeping a close watch on around 35K pharmacies across the state to check the alleged over-the-counter sale of Pregabalin—a neurological prescription medicine. He also directed the Drug Wing of the Food and Drug Administration to conduct regular inspections with police assistance, so that no medicine dealer operated without a valid license or sold life-saving medicines without a doctor’s prescription. On 25 Oct, the Punjab Chemists Association (PCA) decided to discontinue the sale of all habit-forming medicines, including Pregabalin, across the state with immediate effect. The PCA communicated the decision to unit presidents, secretaries, and members of the association, directing them to ensure strict compliance and inform chemists in their respective areas. Vice-President PCA, Sudarshan Chaudhary, said licensed chemists had to follow lengthy procedures to maintain records of psychotropic medicines, yet they were being branded as drug peddlers. The decision is likely to affect other patients as well, including diabetes and a host of other illnesses. Pregabalin, among other medicines, is prescribed for chronic neuropathic pain, and its sudden unavailability at retail chemists could create difficulties for patients depending on it. When asked about the impacted patients, Chaudhary said that under the present circumstances, the government should make these medicines available through government-run outlets. PCA said the decision was taken to demonstrate its commitment to responsible pharmacy practices and the fight against drug abuse while safeguarding the reputation of legitimate chemists. The move to ban prescription medicines is similar to when, in 2018, then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh of the Indian National Congress had banned the sale of over-the-counter syringes. Amidst mounting criticism, the CM had to withdraw the ban. Meanwhile, the Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav has proposed amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, urging the union government to grant police officers joint enforcement powers along with drug inspectors. He has also written to Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, and Rajasthan governments to stop illegal pharmaceutical supply lines (earlier coverage).