Avoid cough syrups for children under two, says Health Secy

Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, on Monday urged strict adherence to rational medication practices for children, particularly avoiding cough and cold syrups for those under two years of age.

He issued the advisory while chairing a meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, attended by Smita Sethi, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, J&K, along with Heads of Paediatrics Departments from all government medical colleges and officers from the Drugs Control Organisation.

The meeting followed a recent communication from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which advised against prescribing or dispensing cough and cold medicines to children below two years.

Dr Abid Rasheed stressed the need to promote rational drug use and ensure patient safety in paediatric care across the Union Territory. He directed medical professionals, pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulatory authorities to comply strictly with national guidelines and best practices.

Paediatric heads noted that such medicines are generally not recommended for children below five years, and for older children, their use should be based on careful clinical evaluation and strict dosage adherence, while avoiding multiple-drug combinations.

The Director General of Health Services (DGHS) has underscored that most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting and resolve without medication.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers in J&K were instructed to follow WHO-GMP standards, conduct impurity profiling as per latest pharmacopeial norms, and ensure full compliance. Drugs Control Officers were directed to sensitise chemists against the over-the-counter sale of cough syrups without prescription and to conduct regular sampling and testing of such products under Section 23 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

They were cautioned that violations would invite strict action, including suspension or cancellation of licences under Rule 66 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules.