Dehradun: Many children have died in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh after drinking cough syrup. The incident has sparked panic across the country. In Uttarakhand too, raids are being carried out by the Food Safety and Drug Administration. Also, the FDA has banned the sale of cough syrup containing Dextromethorphan and cough syrup containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Phenylephrine Hydrochloride under the guidelines issued by the central government on cough syrup. At the same time, an intensive campaign is being launched against the sale and distribution of banned and suspected cough syrup in the state.
Ban on the sale of cough syrup: During the raids on the pharmaceutical establishments by the FDA i.e. the Food Safety and Drug Administration, those medicines have not been found in the state, the cough syrup that has caused the death of children in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Taking precautions in such a situation, the FDA has banned the sale of cough syrup of the two salts mentioned in the advisory issued by the central government.
Along with this, cough syrup coming to Uttarakhand from other states is also being monitored. So that medicines made from these salts cannot come to Uttarakhand. In fact, the central government has talked about cough syrup containing two salts. This cough syrup is not safe for children. This is the reason why the health department has also instructed all doctors in this regard that these cough syrups should not be written on the prescription.
At the same time, Additional Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration Tajbar Singh Jaggi said that testing, sampling and market control of suspected drugs are being done across the state. The Uttarakhand government has taken this step in the public interest after the incidents of illness and death of children due to consumption of cough syrup in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This campaign is being run in every district of the state with full sensitivity. So that, in any case, the health of children is not adversely affected.
The Additional Commissioner said that strict instructions have been given to drug control officers in all districts of the state to collect cough syrup samples from CFTOs, medical stores, wholesalers and drug shops of hospitals. Also send to authorized laboratories for testing. Quality checks are also being carried out by taking samples of raw materials such as polyethylene glycol, sorbitol and other chemical elements from construction companies.
Samples have been taken for 63 drugs in Uttarakhand so far: to eliminate the possibility of any shortage or disruption at the production level as well. So far, samples of 63 drugs have been collected across the state, which are being tested. In such a situation, necessary action will be taken on the basis of the investigation report. The Additional Commissioner has appealed to the general public not to give any cough syrup or medicines to children without the advice of a doctor.
If the child shows symptoms such as cold, cough or fever, give the medicine only on the advice of the doctor. He also said that this campaign will continue in the future. So that there is no health risk situation of any kind. He said that departmental teams are constantly monitoring the campaign. Special attention is being paid to drug shops and wholesalers in every district.
Do not give pre-opened cough syrup or medicine to children at all: Additional Commissioner Tajbar Jaggi has appealed to the general public not to give open cough syrup or any kind of medicine to children in their homes at all. Because, sometimes, old or open medicines lose their quality, which can prove to be harmful to children’s health. So avoid using any such open bottle or incomplete medicine.
Apart from this, make sure to check the expiry date of every medicine. He also said that Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration R Rajesh Kumar has directed all District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers to implement the advisory of the Government of India with immediate effect. Orders have also been given to continuously monitor drug stores and manufacturing units.
