The Indian government has banned the over-the-counter sale of cough syrups following a series of contamination-linked child deaths in the country and abroad.
The health ministry has issued a gazette notification removing the word 'syrup' from its list of Schedule K drugs, making it mandatory for pharmacies to sell cough syrups only against a valid prescription.
The move comes after a draft notification was issued in December last year, with all stakeholders given a chance to review it.
The sale of cough syrups manufactured in India has been mired in controversy, with contaminated syrups allegedly linked to the deaths of children in India and several other countries.
Last year, at least 22 children died after allegedly consuming contaminated cough syrup in Rajasthan, with laboratory tests finding the concentration of diethylene glycol (DEG) to be hundreds of times higher than the permissible limit.
The contaminant can lead to renal and neurological toxicity if ingested, affecting kidney and brain functions.
