The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories emphasizing the rational and judicious use of cough syrups in the paediatric population to ensure patient safety and prevent misuse.
In an official communication as per news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) highlighted that most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting and often do not require pharmacological intervention.
The advisory categorically states that cough and cold medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children below two years of age, and are generally not recommended for children under five years. For older children, the use of such medications should only follow careful clinical evaluation, with close supervision, correct dosing, and the shortest effective duration. The circular also warns against prescribing multiple-drug combinations.
It further stresses that non-pharmacological measures—such as adequate hydration, rest, and supportive care—should be the first-line approach in treating cough among children.
To ensure quality and safety, the DGHS has directed all healthcare facilities and clinical establishments to procure and dispense only those cough syrup formulations manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and made with pharmaceutical-grade excipients.
The letter, signed by Dr. Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services, instructs all State and UT Health Departments, District Health Authorities, and medical institutions to disseminate and implement the advisory across government dispensaries, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and hospitals.
The DGHS has also called for sensitizing doctors and pharmacists in both public and private sectors about rational prescribing and dispensing practices.
Copies of the advisory have been forwarded to the Drug Controller General of India (CDSCO), all State Drug Controllers, and heads of central government hospitals and premier medical institutes, including AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh, and JIPMER Puducherry, for immediate compliance and monitoring.(KINS)
