Department of Drug Administration cautions all sides regarding sale, distribution and consumption of ‘cough syrup’

Kathmandu. The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has warned all the people in Nepal over the death of children due to the consumption of cough syrup in India.

The Department under the Ministry of Health and Population has issued an urgent notice warning all sides against the sale, distribution and consumption of ‘cough syrup’. “The Department’s serious attention has been drawn to reports of children dying following the administration of cough medicine ‘Coldrif Cough Syrup’ in different states of India,” the notice reads. It is requested to inform all the manufacturers and their products that are not registered with the department. ’

“The department has been aware of such incidents in the past as well,” the notice reads. “A notice was published on November 28, 2012 to all industries producing and importing liquid drugs in Nepal, making it mandatory to conduct necessary quality tests to ensure that there is no adulteration of Ethylene Glycol Diethylene Glycol in their products while using auxiliary raw materials such as Propylene Glycol, Polyethylene Glycol, Sorbitol Glycerol/Glycerine,” the notice reads. A notice was published to arrange for testing. However, all the concerned parties have been directed to remain vigilant on this issue again and to follow the following directives to carry out the necessary quality tests. ’

Here are the Department’s requests to all parties

When purchasing a product, purchase only pharmacopoeial level from authorized suppliers.
Produce and sell the said raw materials and the drug of the composition of the compound liquid only after testing Ethylene Glycol Diethylene Glycol according to the prescribed method.

for drug importers

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Import and sell only after ensuring that each batch of the mentioned raw material mixed liquid composition medicine imported into Nepal does not contain Ethylene Glycol Diethylene Glycol.

for pharmacies

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Sell and distribute only drugs registered with the department.

For Physicians

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Recommend only drugs registered with the department.

When recommending cough medicines to children two years of age or younger, they should only be recommended on the basis of scientific evidence.TAG_OPEN_li_46

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Please use any medication for children only on the advice of a doctor.TAG_OPEN_li_45

Use only drugs that are registered with the department.TAG_OPEN_li_44