Centre mandates prescription for syrup medicines, including cough syrups, bars over-the-counter sale
By Shalini Bhardwaj, New Delhi, June 16
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday issued a notification under which syrup medicines, including cough syrups, will no longer be available over the counter.
Consumers will now require a doctor's prescription to purchase such medicines.
The change comes after the Centre amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, through the Drugs (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified in the Official Gazette on June 9.
Under the amendment, the word "Syrups" has been removed from item number (7) under serial number 13 of Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945.
Schedule K lists categories of medicines that are exempt from certain provisions of Chapter IV of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, subject to specified conditions. With the omission of syrups from the list, such medicines will now be subject to the applicable regulatory requirements.
The amendment follows a draft notification issued on December 29, 2025, inviting objections and suggestions from stakeholders and the public. The government said all comments received on the draft rules were considered before the final notification was issued.
The notification stated, "Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 12 and 33 of the said Act, the Central Government, after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Drugs Rules, 1945, namely."
The amendment further read, "In the Drugs Rules, 1945, in Schedule K, in the column, under the heading Class of Drugs, against serial number 13, in item number (7), the word 'Syrups,' shall be omitted."
The notification was issued after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board.
The Drugs Rules, 1945, framed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, regulate the manufacture, sale and distribution of medicines in India.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally! 🙏 For years, anyone could walk into a pharmacy and buy codeine-based cough syrups without questions. This was fueling addiction among our youth. But I hope the government also cracks down on illegal online sales. Just making it prescription won't help if there's no enforcement.
As someone living in India, I've seen how easy it is to buy any syrup. This regulation is overdue. But the timing is interesting—right before monsoon season when coughs and colds peak. Hope doctors are prepared for the rush. Also, what about people in rural areas with limited clinic access? They'll struggle.
Honestly, this is a sensible step. My cousin in Mumbai was addicted to cough syrup for years before we could help him. But the real issue is the middleman—pharmacists who sell without prescription. The government needs to penalize them heavily. Also, keep generic syrups prescription-free if they don't have abuse potential. Common sense should prevail.
Good move for public health, but it'll be tough on families with young kids who get coughs frequently. In India, we often self-medicate with homeopathic or ayurvedic syrups—are those also affected? The notification mentions 'Drugs Rules', so hopefully traditional medicines are exempt. Need clarity from the government.
Ek baat toh clear hai—yeh regulation bahut zaroori tha. Lekin government ko yeh bhi dekhna hoga ki poor families mein bachchon ko cough syrup ki zaroorat hoti hai aur unke paas doctor ke paas jaane ka time aur
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