At Sunway Pharmacy, we are committed to the safe and responsible dispensing of prescription medicines in strict compliance with Indian pharmaceutical laws and regulations. This policy outlines our procedures for handling prescription medications.
What are Prescription Medicines?
Prescription medicines, also known as Schedule H, H1, and X drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, are medications that can only be sold against a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner. These medicines require professional medical supervision due to their potency, potential side effects, or risk of misuse.
Categories of Prescription Drugs
Schedule H Drugs: Prescription-only medicines that must be sold only against a valid prescription. The label must display "Rx" symbol and the text "Schedule H Drug - Warning: To be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only."
Schedule H1 Drugs: Restricted prescription drugs that require stricter controls. These include certain antibiotics and anti-TB drugs. Pharmacies must maintain detailed records of sale for a minimum of 3 years.
Schedule X Drugs: Narcotic and psychotropic substances requiring special prescriptions and record-keeping as per NDPS Act, 1985. These include controlled substances like morphine, codeine, and certain sedatives.
Prescription Requirements
To purchase prescription medicines from Sunway Pharmacy, you must provide a valid prescription that includes:
- Patient's full name, age, and gender
- Date of prescription (must be recent - typically within 3 months for most drugs)
- Name of the medicine with strength and dosage form (e.g., "Amoxicillin 500mg Capsules")
- Dosage instructions (e.g., "1 tablet twice daily after meals")
- Duration of treatment (e.g., "for 7 days")
- Prescriber's full name and qualification (e.g., Dr. Amit Shah, MBBS, MD)
- Prescriber's registration number (Medical Council registration)
- Prescriber's signature and official stamp/seal
- Prescriber's contact details (clinic/hospital name, address, and phone number)
- Prescription serial number (if applicable)
How to Upload Your Prescription
Step 1: Browse our catalog and add the prescription medicine to your cart
Step 2: On the product page, you will see a mandatory "Upload Prescription" field with a red "Prescription Required" badge
Step 3: Click the "Choose File" or "Upload" button
Step 4: Select a clear, readable image or PDF of your prescription from your device
Step 5: Accepted formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG, PDF (Maximum file size: 20MB)
Step 6: Ensure all corners of the prescription are visible and text is clearly readable
Step 7: You can upload multiple prescriptions if ordering different medicines
Step 8: Complete your order - our registered pharmacist will verify within 2-4 hours
Prescription Verification Process
Every prescription uploaded is carefully reviewed by our registered pharmacist (Ms R. JAYASUDHA, Reg. No. 45512A1) who will:
- Verify the authenticity and validity of the prescription
- Check that the prescribed medicine matches your order
- Ensure the dosage and instructions are appropriate and safe
- Confirm the prescription is from a registered medical practitioner (verified via State Medical Council database)
- Check for potential drug interactions if multiple medicines are ordered
- Contact the prescriber directly if any clarification is needed (with your consent)
- Reject orders if the prescription is invalid, expired, unclear, or raises safety concerns
Verification Timeline: Business hours (9AM-9PM) MON-SAT. Prescriptions uploaded after hours will be verified the next business day.
Prescription Validity Period
- General Medicines (Schedule H): 6 months from date of issue
- Controlled Substances (Schedule X): 30 days from date of issue as per NDPS regulations
- Antibiotics (Schedule H1): 30 days from date of issue to prevent antibiotic resistance
- Chronic Disease Medications: As specified by the prescriber (usually 3-6 months)
- Acute Conditions: 1-3 months depending on the condition
Prescription Retention & Privacy
- All prescriptions are securely stored in our encrypted digital system for a minimum of 3 years as per Drugs and Cosmetics Rules
- Physical copies (if submitted) are stored in locked, fireproof cabinets
- Prescriptions are kept strictly confidential and used only for dispensing and regulatory compliance
- We maintain a detailed register of all Schedule H1 and X drugs dispensed with patient details, prescriber information, and batch numbers
- Your prescription data is protected under our Privacy Policy and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
- Prescription data is never shared with third parties except as required by law or regulatory authorities
Refills & Repeat Orders
For Acute Medications: A new prescription is required for each order (e.g., antibiotics, pain relievers for short-term use)
For Chronic Medications: If your prescription specifies refills or duration (e.g., "for 3 months" or "2 refills allowed"), you may reorder within that period without uploading a new prescription. Our system automatically tracks this.
Automatic Refill Reminders: With your consent, we can send you SMS/email reminders 7 days before your chronic medication runs out (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, thyroid medications).
Subscription Service: For regular medications, you can set up auto-delivery every 30/60/90 days. Your prescription validity will be tracked automatically.
Rejected Prescriptions - Common Reasons
We reserve the right to reject any prescription that:
- Is illegible, blurred, or has unclear handwriting
- Is incomplete (missing patient name, date, prescriber signature, etc.)
- Appears to be forged, altered, tampered with, or photocopied
- Is expired or beyond the validity period
- Is from an unregistered, unverified, or suspended medical practitioner
- Contains inappropriate or excessive quantities that raise safety concerns
- Has dosage errors or potentially harmful instructions
- Is a screenshot or edited digital image (original scans only)
- Lacks proper prescriber credentials or contact information
- Is for controlled substances without proper documentation
If your prescription is rejected: We will notify you within 2-4 hours via email and SMS with the specific reason. You can then upload a corrected prescription or contact your doctor for a new one. Your order will remain on hold for 48 hours.
Emergency Situations
In genuine medical emergencies where a prescription cannot be immediately provided:
- Contact our pharmacist directly at +91 91502 67773.
- Explain your situation and provide your doctor's contact details
- We may, at our discretion and after verification with your doctor, provide a limited emergency supply (typically 3-5 days)
- You must upload the prescription within 48 hours to receive the remaining quantity
- This service is available only for chronic medications, NOT for controlled substances or antibiotics
Note: Emergency dispensing is done in compliance with pharmaceutical regulations and at the pharmacist's professional discretion.
Controlled Substances (Schedule X)
For narcotic and psychotropic substances under NDPS Act:
- Only original prescriptions on the prescriber's official letterhead are accepted (no digital/scanned copies)
- Prescription must be in the prescriber's own handwriting with blue/black ink
- Specific quantity limits apply (typically 7-30 days supply)
- Patient's government-issued photo ID proof is mandatory (Aadhaar/PAN/Driving License)
- Prescriber must have valid narcotic license number mentioned on prescription
- Detailed records are maintained in a separate register and reported to State Drug Control monthly
- Delivery requires signature verification and ID check at the time of receipt
Common Schedule X drugs: Morphine, Codeine, Alprazolam, Diazepam, Tramadol, certain cough syrups with codeine
Patient Counseling Services
Our registered pharmacist is available for FREE consultation to provide:
- Detailed guidance on proper medication usage and timing
- Information about potential side effects and what to watch for
- Drug interaction warnings (with food, alcohol, other medications)
- Storage instructions (room temperature, refrigeration, away from light)
- What to do if you miss a dose
- When to seek medical attention
- Answers to your medication-related questions
Contact for Pharmacist Consultation:
WhatsApp: +91 91502 67773
Email: support@sunwaypharmacy.in
Available: Mon-Sat 12PM-8PM
Special Cases
Pediatric Prescriptions: Extra care is taken to verify dosages for children. Age and weight must be clearly mentioned.
Geriatric Patients: We check for potential interactions and age-appropriate dosing for elderly patients.
Pregnancy & Lactation: Prescriptions for pregnant/nursing mothers are carefully reviewed for safety category.
Multiple Medications: When ordering 3+ different medicines, our pharmacist conducts a comprehensive drug interaction check.
Compliance & Reporting
Sunway Pharmacy maintains complete regulatory records and submits mandatory reports to:
-
Tamil Nadu Drug Control Department
(Monthly reporting for Schedule H1 and Schedule X drugs) -
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
(For Schedule X and controlled substances) -
Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI)
(For reporting adverse drug reactions)
We fully cooperate with all Tamil Nadu regulatory authorities during inspections and audits to ensure patient safety, compliance, and prevention of drug misuse.
Prescription Fraud Prevention
We employ multiple verification methods to prevent prescription fraud:
- Cross-verification with State Medical Council database
- Direct contact with prescriber for high-value or suspicious prescriptions
- Digital watermark and metadata analysis
- Pattern recognition for repeat offenders
- Reporting suspected fraud to authorities
Your Rights
As a patient, you have the right to:
- Receive genuine, quality medications as prescribed
- Get clear information about your medicines
- Privacy and confidentiality of your health information
- Refuse medication and seek a second opinion
- Report adverse reactions without fear
- Access your prescription records (with proper ID verification)
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions about our prescription policy or need assistance:
PRESCRIPTION SUPPORT TEAM
WhatsApp: +91 91502 67773
Email: support@sunwaypharmacy.in
Available: Mon-Sat 12PM-8PM
Registered Pharmacist: Ms R. JAYASUDHA
Registration: 45512A1
Direct Line: +91 91502 67773
This policy is subject to change in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Last Updated: November 29, 2024