Contact

Schedule J: the claims no medicine may make in India

Rule 106 of the Drugs Rules lists 51 diseases and ailments that no drug may claim to prevent or cure. The list, and the 54 conditions of the Magic Remedies Act beside it.

· 2 min read

A bound ledger with a red cloth cover tied with string, beside file folders tied with red tape and a brass desk bell

Two lists in Indian law limit what may be said about a medicine. The first belongs to the Drugs Rules, 1945:

“No drug may purport or claim to prevent or cure or may convey to the intending user thereof any idea that it may prevent or cure, one or more of the diseases or ailments specified in Schedule J.”

Drugs Rules, 1945, rule 106(1)

Schedule J names 51 diseases and ailments, by whatever name described. It is reproduced below as it stands in the compilation of the Drugs Rules published by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, amended up to July 2024.

Schedule J (rule 106): diseases and ailments, by whatever name described, which a drug may not purport to prevent or cure or make claims to prevent or cure
  1. AIDS
  2. Angina Pectoris
  3. Appendicitis
  4. Arteriosclerosis
  5. Baldness
  6. Blindness
  7. Bronchial Asthma
  8. Cancer and Benign tumour
  9. Cataract
  10. Change in colour of the hair and growth of new hair
  11. Change of foetal sex by drugs
  12. Congenital malformations
  13. Deafness
  14. Diabetes
  15. Diseases and disorders of uterus
  16. Epileptic fits and psychiatric disorders
  17. Encephalitis
  18. Fairness of the skin
  19. Form, structure of breast
  20. Gangrene
  21. Genetic disorders
  22. Glaucoma
  23. Goitre
  24. Hernia
  25. High/low Blood Pressure
  26. Hydrocele
  27. Insanity
  28. Increase in brain capacity and improvement of memory
  29. Improvement in height of children/adults
  30. Improvement in size and shape of the sexual organ and in duration of sexual performance
  31. Improvement in the strength of the natural teeth
  32. Improvement in vision
  33. Jaundice/Hepatitis/Liver disorders
  34. Leukaemia
  35. Leucoderma
  36. Maintenance or improvement of capacity of the human being for sexual pleasure
  37. Mental retardation, subnormalities and growth
  38. Myocardial infarction
  39. Obesity
  40. Paralysis
  41. Parkinsonism
  42. Piles and Fistulae
  43. Power to rejuvenate
  44. Premature ageing
  45. Premature greying of hair
  46. Rheumatic Heart diseases
  47. Sexual Impotence, Premature ejaculation and spermatorrhoea
  48. Spondylitis
  49. Stammering
  50. Stones in gall-bladder, kidney, bladder
  51. Varicose vein

The second list

The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 forbids anyone to take part in publishing an advertisement that suggests a drug for

“the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of any disease, disorder or condition specified in the Schedule, or any other disease, disorder or condition (by whatsoever name called) which may be specified in the rules made under this Act”

Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, section 3(d)

Its Schedule names 54 diseases, disorders and conditions. Section 3 adds the procurement of miscarriage or prevention of conception in women, the capacity for sexual pleasure and the correction of menstrual disorder.

Where each list applies

Rule 106 governs what a drug may purport or claim, including any idea conveyed to the person who will use it. The Act governs advertisements, which it defines broadly:

“‘advertisement’ includes any notice, circular, label, wrapper, or other document, and any announcement made orally or by any means of producing or transmitting light, sound or smoke”

Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, section 2(a)

The Drugs and Cosmetics Act separately prohibits the import of a drug that, by any statement, design or device accompanying it, purports or claims to cure or mitigate a prescribed disease or ailment (section 10(e)).