Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh government has banned the sale and use of Coldrid cough syrup following the deaths of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh that were reportedly linked to the consumption of the medicine, an official said on Wednesday.
The state Drugs Control Department has issued an advisory prohibiting the sale, distribution, and stocking of Coldrid cough syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, the official added.
Arunachal Pradesh Drugs Controller Dr. Komling Perme said the advisory was issued after reports emerged linking the cough syrup to child deaths in other states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
He said the move also follows a general advisory from the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of India, urging rational use of the medicine in the pediatric population.
The Health department has directed stockists/retailers that the product should not be purchased, sold or stocked for public consumption.
If the stockists/retailers are in possession of the product, they must report it to the local drugs control authority immediately, the official said.
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The advisory also directed physicians in both government and private hospitals to be on vigil while prescribing cough syrup to children.
Meanwhile, the department has advised the general public to avoid consumption of the cough syrup.
