Some 40 drugs will soon be notified under a new schedule, H1, of Drugs and Cosmetics Act to make it mandatory for chemists to maintain a register of their sales and retain a copy of the prescription. This will be in addition to the schedule H drugs which, too, can't be sold without prescription.

Besides, packs of H1 drugs will carry a prominent warning in red stating that it is dangerous to take these drugs without doctor's prescription. The decision, which Central Drugs and Standards Control Organisation hopes will arrest the rising incidence of resistance to antibiotics in the country, was taken at the 62nd meeting of Drug Technical Advisory Board Wednesday.