Reuters
[Source: Reuters]
India has restricted cough syrup sales to licensed pharmacies especially in villages, preventing over-the-counter sales from retail outlets, as regulators step up scrutiny following contamination-linked child deaths last year.
Some cough syrups were previously on an exemption list under drug rules, allowing them to be sold over the counter as household remedies under relaxed regulations.
That allowed vendors with restricted retail licences, often issued in smaller towns or villages without pharmacies and with a population of not more than 1,000, to sell the products. These medicines were often bought without a prescription, including from non-pharmaceutical retail stores.
The government has now removed cough syrups from the exemption list, while allowing pills, tablets and lozenges to remain on it, according to a government notification dated June 15.
“Consequently, the sale and dispensing of cough syrups in smaller villages will now be required to take place only through duly licensed pharmacies in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,” a separate statement from the Health Ministry said.
“The measure is expected to promote responsible distribution and sale of cough syrups while ensuring greater compliance with regulatory standards across the country.”
