Short answer: Schedule H and H1 medicines can be sold only on a valid prescription, and chemists must keep records of those sales. Instead of a separate paper register, you can mark the drug schedule on each item in your billing software so the record is created while billing. BizKhata supports drug schedule marking (OTC, Schedule H, H1, X, Rx only, G, Narcotic) on every item.
Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Rules are set by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules and your State Drug Controller; confirm requirements with your licence authority or pharmacist-in-charge.
What are Schedule H and H1?
- Schedule H: prescription-only drugs. The label carries “Rx” and a warning that it should be sold only on a registered medical practitioner’s prescription.
- Schedule H1: a stricter group (certain antibiotics, anti-TB drugs and others). Shops are expected to keep a separate register with patient, doctor, drug and quantity details for these sales.
- Schedule X: narcotic and psychotropic substances with the strictest controls.
What a chemist usually records
For restricted sales, records typically include date, bill number, patient name and address, prescriber name and registration number, medicine name, batch, quantity supplied. A good billing system gives you most of this automatically from the bill: date, bill number, batch and quantity are already there, and you add patient and doctor details.
How BizKhata helps
- Mark the schedule once on the item (OTC, Schedule H, H1, X, G, Rx only or Narcotic).
- Bill as normal with the Pharmacy Fast Billing template or the Medical Store business template. Doctor and patient fields appear on the bill, and for H1 and X the prescriber’s registration number and the patient’s address or mobile are asked as well.
- Open the Schedule Register page. It lists every sale of a Schedule H, H1 or X medicine in a date range: date, bill, schedule, drug, batch, expiry, quantity, prescriber, prescriber registration number and address, patient, age/gender, address, mobile and Rx number.
- Fill any gap directly on the register page if a detail was missed on the bill.
- Export CSV to print or hand over when an inspector asks.
- Batch is recorded with each sale, so the register shows exactly which batch left the shop.
The register covers Schedule H, H1 and X sales. Items tagged G, Rx only or Narcotic carry their tag on the item, but are not part of this register.
Habits that keep you safe
- Never bill a Schedule H item without seeing the prescription.
- Keep prescriptions filed by bill number.
- Check expiry before dispensing; see batch and expiry guide.
- Take a daily backup, so a PC failure never costs you your records.
- Use the app lock so only authorised staff open sensitive reports.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Item master has no schedule | Update item once; all future bills carry it |
| Same medicine under two names | Merge or use aliases so history is not split |
| Records only in a paper book | Keep digital bills as the primary record, paper as backup |
| No backup | Schedule a daily backup and restore-test monthly |
Why offline software suits this job
Your records are on your own computer, available even with no internet during an inspection.
Step-by-step: set up a Schedule H workflow in one hour
- Export your medicine list from your old software or a spreadsheet, with salt, HSN, GST rate, MRP.
- Sort by schedule. Using the pack label (“Rx” or “Schedule H” printed on the strip), tag each item. Start with antibiotics, anti-diabetics, steroids and sedatives, because these are the ones inspectors check first.
- Train the counter staff. The rule is simple: if the item shows a schedule, the prescription must be seen before the bill is saved.
- File prescriptions by bill number. A folder per month, each prescription stapled or clipped with a bill copy, makes any inspection a five-minute job.
- Run a monthly check. Filter the month’s bills for restricted items and compare count with the prescriptions filed.
What an inspector usually looks at
- Valid drug licence displayed, with a registered pharmacist present.
- Purchase bills from licensed distributors only.
- Expiry-free shelves and a separate area for expired stock.
- Records for H1 and narcotic items.
- Cold-chain items kept properly.
Billing software cannot replace these, but it makes the paperwork part quick: purchase bills with batch and expiry are already entered, sale bills carry the batch, and reports are one click away.
Related reading
For stock side of the same shop see batch and expiry guide. To serve customers faster read salt search, loose tablets and FEFO.
FAQ
Can I keep a Schedule H register in billing software? Yes. You mark the drug schedule per item and the bill carries it, so you can filter sales of restricted drugs. Confirm with your drug inspector whether a digital register satisfies your State’s format.
Does BizKhata support Schedule H1? Yes. You can tag items as Schedule H, H1, X, G, Rx only, Narcotic or OTC, and the Schedule Register lists H, H1 and X sales with prescriber and patient details.
Do I need internet to keep records? No. The app is offline-first.
Can I find which batch of an antibiotic was sold? Yes, the batch and expiry are stored on each sale line and shown in the register.
Can I export the register? Yes, the Schedule Register has an Export CSV button for any date range.
Is a paper register still required? That depends on your State authority. Many shops keep both until the inspector accepts the digital copy.
Is my data safe? Data is stored on your computer; use backup and restore plus the PIN app lock.