Saptrishi Soni।
Punjab’s drug enforcement wing conducts 16,788 inspections in 18 months; 22 chemists’ licences cancelled as government steps up action against the misuse and illegal sale of medicines
CHANDIGARH: The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has intensified its enforcement drive against violations of drug regulations, with authorities seizing medicines worth ₹20.64 crore, suspending 520 chemists’ licences and cancelling another 22 following inspections across the state between April 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.
According to information released by the state government, the Drugs Wing of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) conducted 16,788 inspections during the 18-month period. Medicines were seized from 214 licensed and unlicensed establishments for violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs Rules, 1945. The action was undertaken under the directions of Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh, with the stated objective of strengthening enforcement and curbing the misuse of medicines.
The scale of the action highlights the regulatory challenges facing Punjab as the state continues its efforts to tackle substance misuse, including the unlawful distribution of pharmaceutical products that can be misused for intoxication.
Court action and convictions form part of the enforcement drive
The government’s action has extended beyond inspections and seizures. During the period under review, 54 court cases were instituted against alleged violators, while 35 cases resulted in convictions and fines. Another 650 cases were reported to be pending before district courts across Punjab.
These figures indicate that enforcement is proceeding through both administrative and judicial channels. However, the number of inspections and licences suspended or cancelled does not, by itself, establish how much the illegal supply of habit-forming medicines has declined. The long-term effectiveness of the drive will depend on compliance, the prosecution of repeat offenders and the ability of authorities to prevent prohibited sales from resuming.
Pregabalin regulation and the challenge of habit-forming medicines
One of the important developments highlighted by the state concerns pregabalin, a medicine whose misuse has attracted regulatory attention in Punjab.
The Union government issued notification G.S.R. 377(E) on May 13, 2026, bringing pregabalin under Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, with the new provision scheduled to take effect on November 12, 2026. The change is intended to strengthen controls over the medicine’s sale and dispensing.
Punjab had repeatedly urged the Centre to introduce regulatory measures to address concerns about pregabalin misuse. The state has also restricted the stocking for sale of eight types of drug formulations, according to the government’s account.
The issue is particularly significant because medicines intended for legitimate medical treatment can cause serious harm when misused or supplied without appropriate safeguards. Effective enforcement therefore requires a balance between preventing abuse and ensuring that patients who genuinely need prescribed medicines retain access to treatment.
Online medicine sales raise further concerns
The Mann government has also raised concerns with the Union Health Ministry about the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework governing online medicine sales through e-pharmacies.
The state has argued that medicines liable to misuse can remain accessible through online channels, complicating efforts to monitor distribution and enforce restrictions. Punjab has also flagged concerns over medicine prices and substantial price differences between products containing the same active pharmaceutical ingredient.
These issues extend the challenge beyond physical chemist shops. Even sustained inspections of retail establishments may not be sufficient unless regulators can monitor supply chains, online transactions and the movement of medicines between jurisdictions.
Drug crisis puts enforcement under greater public scrutiny
Punjab’s pharmaceutical controls have come under renewed public attention amid continuing concerns over substance misuse and the recent killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. The case has intensified scrutiny of the availability of habit-forming medicines and the effectiveness of action against alleged illegal suppliers.
The incident has also sharpened questions about whether repeated inspections and licence suspensions are enough to deter violations when enforcement mechanisms fail to prevent alleged illegal activity from recurring. Such concerns make it important for authorities to examine not only how many establishments are inspected, but also whether repeat violations are identified, prosecuted and effectively prevented.
The government’s reported enforcement figures demonstrate the breadth of regulatory action undertaken during the period. Yet the larger test for the Mann administration is whether these measures produce a sustained reduction in the unauthorised supply and misuse of medicines.
For Punjab, the challenge is to ensure that regulatory action reaches the entire distribution network, that court proceedings lead to timely outcomes, and that vulnerable people receive access to treatment and rehabilitation. Public reporting of district-wise inspections, repeat-offender cases, prosecution outcomes and trends in medicine misuse would help citizens assess the impact of the campaign.
The Mann government has reiterated its commitment to stronger enforcement and public health protection. The next measure of progress will be whether the drive delivers lasting improvements on the ground, beyond seizures and licence-related action.
