NEW DELHI: A proposal to make CCTV surveillance mandatory at retail pharmacies has drawn objections from chemists, who argue that recording medicine purchases and interactions could compromise patient privacy, particularly in cases involving reproductive, sexual, psychiatric and neurological health.Retail Distribution Chemist Alliance (RDCA), a Delhi-based body representing chemists, has opposed the proposed insertion of Rule 65(2A) in the Drugs Rules, 1945.In a representation to Union health ministry, RDCA president Sandeep Nangia urged govt to reconsider the proposal requiring retail pharmacies to install CCTV cameras and retain footage for at least three months.While supporting efforts to ensure lawful dispensing of medicines, the association said mandatory surveillance at all pharmacies could discourage patients from openly discussing sensitive medical issues.According to RDCA, pharmacies often handle purchases related to chronic illnesses, reproductive and sexual health, psychiatric and neurological conditions, as well as medicines for children and elderly people. Recording such interactions, the body argued, could infringe on patient confidentiality.The association also pointed out that medicines are frequently bought by family members on behalf of others.’As a result, CCTV footage could capture sensitive health information relating not only to the purchaser but also to spouses, parents, children or other relatives who are not present at the pharmacy.RDCA said patients may not wish to have their identity, appearance, medical discussions or medicine purchases recorded and stressed that regulatory measures should not discourage people from seeking medical advice or approaching pharmacies.The body further noted that pharmacists often discuss dosage, administration, precautions, drug interactions and treatment duration with customers, conversations that may involve confidential health information.It also argued that CCTV footage cannot replace prescriptions, invoices, registers and other statutory records, since recordings cannot establish whether a prescription was clinically appropriate or whether regulatory requirements were complied with.The association sought safeguards regarding access, storage and sharing of recordings to prevent misuse, leaks or theft of data.It also flagged the financial and technical burden on small pharmacies, citing maintenance costs, equipment failures and power or internet disruptions, and called for a risk-based approach with safeguards against penalties arising from documented technical failures.
