Dehradun: Taking strict action to safeguard children’s health, the Uttarakhand government has launched a statewide campaign against banned cough syrups and unsafe medicines. Joint teams of the Health Department and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) are conducting surprise raids at medical stores, wholesale distributors, and hospital pharmacies across all districts.
The crackdown follows recent incidents of child deaths in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh linked to the consumption of cough syrups. Treating it as a serious public health concern, the state has moved swiftly to implement the advisory issued by the Government of India.
Health Secretary and FDA Commissioner Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar directed all Chief Medical Officers to enforce the advisory with immediate effect. He instructed drug inspectors to collect syrup samples, ensure laboratory testing, and remove any harmful medicines from the market. He also appealed to doctors not to prescribe restricted cough syrups for children, stressing that prescriptions directly affect sales at medical stores.
According to the central advisory, children under two years must not be given cough or cold syrups without medical advice. The use of such medicines in children under five is generally not recommended. Syrups containing Dextromethorphan and combinations like Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Phenylephrine Hydrochloride have been restricted for children below four years of age.
FDA’s Deputy Commissioner and Drug Controller, Tajbar Singh Jaggi, is personally leading inspections in Dehradun and other districts. He confirmed that samples are being collected from government hospitals, primary health centres, and retail outlets for testing. Strict legal action will be taken against companies or sellers found violating safety norms.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that children’s safety and public health are non-negotiable priorities. He assured that the government is committed to ensuring only safe and standard-quality medicines are available in the state. Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat reiterated that any negligence in children’s medicines will not be tolerated, urging both doctors and pharmacists to strictly comply with the ban.
Also Read This – Uttarakhand: Policeman and Associate Booked for ₹15.21 Lakh Job Fraud
The FDA also appealed to the public not to administer medicines to children without a doctor’s consultation and to immediately seek medical help in case of adverse effects.
