Cough syrup tragedy: Government urges states, UTs to strictly comply with revised drug norms

NEW DELHI: Amid the controversy over deaths of children in parts of Madhya Pradesh, allegedly due to consumption of sub-standard cough syrup, Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Sunday asked states/UTs to ensure strict compliance with Revised Schedule M – updated Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) — by all drug manufacturers. Srivastava, at a meeting with top health officials from all states/UTs, which was also attended by the chief of Indian Council for Medical Research and Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), directed rational use of cough syrups, particularly for children, as most coughs are self-limiting and do not require pharmacological treatment. Health ministry sources said the matter had been earlier reviewed by Union health minister J P Nadda, who had direct