MORE DRUGS added to the Schedule H list

Through a recent gazette notification, Ministry of Health And Family Welfare has extended the list of schedule H drugs by adding more drugs to it.

Through the Gazette, the ministry has amended the current Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, in Schedule H by adding the following entries after the serial number 537 namely,-

"538. Alclometasone

539. Beclomethasone


540. Betamethasone


541. Desonide


542. Desoximetasone


543. Dexamethasone


544. Diflorasone diacetate


545. Fluocinonide


546. Fluocinolone acetonide


547. Halobetasol propionate


548. Halometasone


549. Methylprednisone


550. Prednicarbate


551. Triamcinolone acetonide"

Schedule H is a class of prescription drugs in India appearing as an appendix to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 introduced in 1945. These are drugs which cannot be purchased over the counter without the prescription of a qualified doctor.

The notice states that the following draft of certain rules, which the Central Government has proposed to make, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 12 and section 33 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940), in consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board is hereby published for information of all persons likely to be affected thereby, and notice is hereby given that said draft rules will be taken into consideration on or after the expiry of a period of forty-five days from the date on which copies of the Gazette of India containing these draft rules are made available to the public.

Objections and suggestions which may be received from any person within the period specified above will be considered by the Central Government.

Objections and suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Under Secretary (Drugs), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Room No. 414 A, D Wing, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi – 110011 or email at drugsdiv-mohfw@gov.in.

Below is the attached notification