Centre Makes Doctor's Prescription Mandatory for Cough Syrup Purchase
The Union Health Ministry has revised drug regulations to prohibit over-the-counter sales of syrup-based medicines, including cough syrups. The amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, notified on June 9, removes syrups from the list of non-prescription medicines, making a valid doctor's prescription compulsory for their purchase.
The decision follows contaminated cough syrups linked to child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, which raised safety concerns about liquid medicine production and sales. A similar incident in October 2025 involved Sresan Pharmaceutical's Coldrif syrup, linked to deaths of 24 children, prompting calls for stricter oversight and quality checks.
With the amendment now effective, pharmacies across India must comply with revised rules. Health authorities cite concerns over misuse and unsupervised consumption, particularly among children, as reasons for requiring proper medical oversight.
