Only 50 Codeine-Based Cough Syrups Allowed at Medical Stores

The Health Department has issued a strict warning to medical store owners: selling cough syrups containing codeine to children without a doctor's prescription will lead to strict action, including license cancellation. A public awareness campaign has also been launched to discourage the use of medications for children without medical advice.

Following the ban on Coldrif cough syrup by the government, heightened vigilance is being observed across the district. Medical stores have been strictly instructed not to sell children’s cough syrups without a valid prescription. Additionally, drug administration teams are collecting samples of children's cough syrups from all pharmaceutical companies.

After four substandard samples were collected from a drug warehouse, legal action has been initiated in the CJM Court. In light of the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan linked to Coldrif syrup, the product has now been banned in the state.

Food Safety and Drug Administration teams are inspecting medical colleges, CHCs, PHCs, and private establishments to ensure that banned cough syrups are not in circulation. Inspections also focus on stock registers and ensuring compliance with government directives.

Just two days ago, the team inspected the drug store at a medical college and collected five samples of children’s cough syrups. The chief pharmacist was instructed not to use any medicine from the banned company. Three more samples were collected from a drug warehouse, and another inspection was conducted at a hospital-run store in Akbarpur town.

District Drug Inspector Ajay Santoshi stated that ongoing inspections are being carried out as per government orders. No banned medicine has yet been found during the inspections, but four cases have been filed in the CJM Court last month. Samples sent to the State Laboratory in Lucknow were found substandard, leading to legal action.