NEW DELHI: The government has notified anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine under Schedule-H1, restricting its sale only based on prescription and making it mandatory for chemists to maintain records for such sales.The move is aimed at stopping misuse of the drug which has now been allowed by the government for prophylactic use in high risk contacts of Covid-19 patients and healthcare workers treating such patients.According to a gazette notification issued by the health ministry, the sale of the drug from now on should be in accordance with the conditions for sale of drugs as specified in Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.“The central government is satisfied that the drug ‘hydroxychloroquine’ is essential to meet the requirements of emergency arising due to pandemic Covid-19 and in the public interest, it is necessary and expedient to regulate and restrict the sale and distribution of the drug ‘hydroxychloroquine’ and preparation-based thereon for preventing their misuse,” the notification said.“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 26B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940), the central government hereby directs that sale by retail of any preparation containing hydroxychloroquine shall be in accordance with the conditions for sale of drugs specified in Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945,” it stated.The move comes in the wake of reports of panic buying of the drug by people to prevent chances of catching the infection, even as government has said its use should be restricted to the specified categories and on prescription as there can be side-effects.On Monday, the health ministry had issued an advisory allowing prophylactic use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for prevention of Covid-19 in high-risk cases, including healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed Covid-19 patients, and asymptomatic household contacts taking care of such positive cases.The advisory said health workers under the prophylaxis must self-monitor their health and report to the authorities in case they become symptomatic. Similarly, high risk household contacts of any positive case have been advised to stay in home quarantine while on prophylactic therapy