- By Surarika Das
- Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- The regulatory change implies that syrups, including commonly used cough syrups, will no longer be available for purchase over the counter without medical authorisation
- The move comes after contaminated cough syrups were allegedly linked to the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
- Consumers seeking to buy such medicines will now be required to present a prescription issued by a registered medical practitioner.
The Centre has made a doctor's prescription mandatory for the purchase of syrup-based medicines, including cough syrups, by amending the Drugs Rules, 1945.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified the Drugs (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, under which the word "syrups" has been removed from Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945. The amendment came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette on June 9.
The rules "shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette", the notification said. Schedule K covers certain categories of medicines that are exempt from specific provisions governing the manufacture and sale of drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. These products, which include common items such as antiseptics, antacids and contraceptives, are allowed to be sold over-the-counter (OTC).
Recent Cough Syrup Deaths
The move comes after contaminated cough syrups were allegedly linked to the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, reigniting concerns over the safety standards and regulatory oversight of widely used liquid medicines.
The incidents prompted renewed calls for tighter quality checks and tighter controls over the manufacture, distribution and sale of syrup-based formulations.
What Does It Mean For Consumers
The regulatory change implies that syrups, including commonly used cough syrups, will no longer be available for purchase over the counter without medical authorisation.
Consumers seeking to buy such medicines will now be required to present a prescription issued by a registered medical practitioner. The move is expected to affect routine purchases of cough and other medicinal syrups that have traditionally been available directly from pharmacies.