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| child taking medicine on a spoon. |
New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a nationwide advisory restricting the use of cough syrups in children under two years of age, citing safety concerns and the need for rational drug use in paediatric care.
The directive, circulated by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), highlights that most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting and often resolve without medication. The advisory stresses that cough and cold syrups should not be prescribed or dispensed for children below two years, and their general use is discouraged for those under five years unless clinically evaluated and strictly supervised by healthcare professionals.
Dr. Sunita Sharma, DGHS, in the official notification, stated that “judicious prescribing and dispensing of cough syrups is essential for patient safety in children.” The circular also emphasized avoiding multiple drug combinations, ensuring the shortest effective treatment duration, and sensitizing the public about following medical prescriptions carefully.
The advisory recommends non-pharmacological measures such as adequate hydration, rest, and supportive care as the first line of treatment for cough in children.
Additionally, the ministry directed all healthcare facilities to ensure that only products manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and formulated with pharmaceutical-grade excipients are dispensed. It called for sensitization of doctors and pharmacists across public and private sectors to maintain these standards.
State and Union Territory health departments, district health authorities, and all clinical establishments have been instructed to widely disseminate this advisory across government dispensaries, PHCs, CHCs, district hospitals, AIIMS, and other medical institutions.
The move comes amid growing global concerns about the misuse of paediatric cough syrups and their potential adverse effects, particularly in infants and toddlers.
Health officials reiterated that parents should avoid self-medication and consult qualified doctors for safe management of cough in children.
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| ADVISORY |
Copy of the advisory has been sent to: Drug Controller General of India, State Drug Controllers, AIIMS Directors, PGI Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, and Central Government Hospitals for strict implementation.
This step is seen as a major initiative to promote rational drug use and safeguard child health across the country.
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