71% consumers in Mumbai rarely asked for prescription, survey finds; Maharashtra FDA acted against 880 drug licensees in three months
A survey reveals that 71% of Mumbai consumers rarely face refusals from chemists when purchasing prescription drugs without a valid doctor's note. In response, the Maharashtra FDA has intensified enforcement actions against non-compliant drug retailers.
Why it matters
The findings highlight significant regulatory gaps in the pharmaceutical retail sector, posing potential public health risks.
As many as 71% of consumers surveyed in Mumbai said chemists never or rarely refused to sell medicines without a doctor’s prescription, compared with 64% nationally, according to a LocalCircles survey published on September 18, 2026. The findings come as the Centre has proposed mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical stores selling prescription drugs, and the Maharashtra FDA has intensified enforcement against retailers.
The Mumbai survey by LocalCircles, which received more than 20,000 responses across its questions, also found that only 28% of respondents said they were assisted by a qualified pharmacist most of the time or always, while 21% said they were assisted by someone who was not a qualified pharmacist.
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