The Centre has amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, removing syrups from Schedule K exemptions, mandating a doctor's prescription for their sale to ensure stricter regulatory control.
This effectively ends their over-the-counter availability
Jun 16, 2026
10:55 am
What's the storyThe central government has tightened regulations on the sale of syrups, including cough syrups, by amending the Drugs Rules, 1945.
The amendment was notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on June 9 through the Drugs (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026.
Doctor's prescription now mandatory to buy cough syrups
Centre mandates prescription for syrup-based medicines
Centre bans sale of cough syrups without doctor’s prescription
Cough syrups to be sold only on prescription as government tightens regulations
Government makes doctor’s prescription mandatory to buy all medicinal syrups, including for cough
No more over-the-counter cough syrups? Why government took the big step
Government prescribes end to over-the-counter sale of cough syrups
Cough syrup purchase to now require doctor's prescription as govt ends over-the-counter sales
‘This could save lives’: Doctors laud Centre's tough stance on cough syrups
Centre bans OTC sale of cough syrups without doctor prescription, tightens norms
As a result, consumers will now need a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner to purchase such medications.
Chemists must now have a doctor's prescription to sell cough syrups. The government has changed the Drugs Rules, 1945. This stops…
The rules have been amended following a series of cases of contaminated cough syrups leading to deaths of children.
NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry on Tuesday amended drug regulations to end the over-the-counter sale of syrup-based…
Government requires doctor's prescription for all medicinal syrups, including cough syrups, effective June 16, 2026.
The Health Ministry said the amendment was undertaken to strengthen regulatory oversight of syrup formulations. | India News
