SRINAGAR: Amid growing concerns over the recent deaths of several children reportedly after consuming cough syrup in other parts of the country, the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department has initiated precautionary measures to ensure child safety.
Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, on Monday chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, emphasizing the urgent need for rational medication use in children and strict compliance with national health advisories.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K, Smita Sethi, Heads of Pediatrics Departments from all Government Medical Colleges, and senior officers from the Drugs Control Organisation at divisional and district levels.
The deliberations followed a recent communication from the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, which advised that cough and cold medications should not be prescribed to children below two years of age. Dr. Abid Rasheed underscored the importance of ensuring patient safety and directed doctors, manufacturers, and regulators to adhere to national and WHO-GMP standards.
During the meeting, pediatric experts noted that such medications are not generally recommended for children under five years, and for older children, their use should only follow clinical evaluation and strict dosage supervision. The Director General of Health Services (DGHS) advisory has also reiterated that most acute cough cases in children are self-limiting and do not require pharmacological treatment.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers in J&K have been instructed to maintain stringent quality standards, while Drugs Control Officers were directed to prevent over-the-counter (OTC) sale of cough syrups without prescription and to conduct regular sampling and testing under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act. Violations will attract strict penal action, including suspension or cancellation of licenses.
The Health Secretary also urged parents to avoid self-medication and to consult qualified pediatricians before administering any cough syrup to children. All field officers and medical institutions have been instructed to ensure strict enforcement of the guidelines to protect child health and promote evidence-based pediatric care across the Union Territory.
