To ensure the quality of cuff syrup and its rational use, the Central Government held a high -level meeting with all the states and union territories on Sunday (October 5, 2025). The meeting was chaired by the Union Health Secretary, which included Health Secretary, Principal Secretary (Health), State Drug Controller and Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) across the country.
In the meeting held on Sunday (October 5), after drinking phlegm syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan recently, serious concern was expressed on the cases of children’s deaths. The Union Health Secretary clearly stated that all pharmaceutical companies will have to strictly follow the provisions of the revised Schedule M, otherwise the licenses of units violating the rules will be canceled.
What is the provision of Sedule-M,
Shedule M (Schedule M) is a part of India’s Drugs and Cosmetics Act that mentions Good Manufacturing Practices/Gmp. This drug sets the quality standard for units, equipment and processes related to construction. Its purpose is to ensure the safety, quality and effectiveness of drugs.
Health Secretary gave instructions regarding the use of medicines
The Health Secretary described any negligence on the quality of medicines as unacceptable. States were instructed to pay special attention to rational use of cough medicines in children. It was revealed in the meeting that in most children, cough is cured on its own without medicinal treatment, so the use of unnecessary phlegm syrup should be avoided. The Secretary said that doctors and health institutions should give appropriate advice to the families in this subject so that misuse can be prevented.
All states and union territories were asked to ensure better monitoring and timely reporting from health institutions. Instructions were given to widely spread the community reporting tools of the IDSP-IHIP platform and strengthen the coordination between the neighboring states to make it possible to be able to inform and joint action on suspicious cases.
Center and State will jointly investigate drug manufacturing units
In the meeting, the central government reiterated that drug safety, quality control and public health security is the top priority. In the coming time, state and center will jointly conduct a thorough investigation of drug manufacturing units and will ensure strict action against companies who do not follow.
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