How AI-made prescriptions are letting Indians buy restricted drugs without doctors

Anuja JaiswalTNN
Feb 6, 2026 | 14:45 IST
(Photo: AI)

A TOI probe shows buying restricted drugs is now a breeze with new tech tools, exposing gaping holes in the system

Artificial Intelligence is making it easier for people to procure restricted drugs, from antibiotics to addictive pills and high-risk psychotropic compounds, raising serious concerns over patient safety, drug misuse and regulatory failure.

Alerted by a doctor who said one of his patients was taking antibiotics based on a fake prescription generated through AI, TOI launched an investigation to find out if such prescriptions could be convincingly created and used to buy medicine.
Copyright © 2024 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service.