Jaipur. Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant on Monday held a meeting of officials of the Medical and Health Department regarding the quality case of cough syrup in the Government Secretariat. He directed that strict monitoring of the distribution and use of cough medicine in the state should be taken and strict action should be taken against the drug manufacturers in case of non -standard. He said that responsibility will be fixed in the event of any negligence in medical and health services. The Chief Secretary said that the main objective of the state government is to ensure the security of the health of the citizens and the high quality of health services. He said that the common man should be made aware only to take the medicine according to the advice and prescribed dose of the doctor. He also instructed doctors, pharmacists and health workers in the state to ensure strict adherence to the drug protocol. Pant, especially instructed to mark alert warning on potential harmful drugs for children and pregnant women. Also, instructions were given to intensify public awareness campaign through door-to-door survey and IEC activities so that people do not consume medicines without medical consultation.
Gayatri Rathore, Principal Government Secretary of Medical and Health Department, said in the meeting that the case of the quality of cough medicine was revealed by the department on the use and distribution of all the batches of this medicine. Along with this, steps are being taken for awareness on a large scale by issuing advisory for the use of medicines. Counseling of doctors, pharmacists and common people is being done on a large level of writing and use. Treatment is being emphasized by other alternative measures instead of using cough syrup.
Rathore said that in view of seasonal diseases, door-to-door survey is being conducted through CHO, ANM and Asha in the state. During this survey, along with identifying patients with symptoms of cough, cold and fever, the common man is being made aware through IEC activities not to use any medicine kept at home in case of any kind of disease. Go to the nearest medical institute and consult a doctor and consume medicines according to medical advice. Especially do not give any medicine to children and pregnant women without consulting a doctor. Keep the medicines kept at home away from the reach of children.
He said that a technical committee has also been constituted to conduct a detailed examination on the use of medicine, the symptoms that are coming in children and various aspects. This committee is conducting investigation and research on various aspects including the symptoms that are coming in the children, treatment given to them. He informed that this case is also being discussed with renowned pediatricians and other experts of the state. Many experts have also informed that in this season, children sometimes have cases like meningitis, pneumonia, shortness of breath, which leads to death of children. Our effort is to find out the real causes of death of children so that such incidents do not happen in future and necessary measures can be ensured to rescue.
In the past, a case of quality of quality of Dextromethorphan HBR Syrup IP 13.5MG/5ml has been reported at Bharatpur, Sikar and other places. On receiving the complaint, the department prohibited the distribution and use of complaint batch with immediate effect. Also, a state medicine test laboratory was sent for quality testing by taking legal samples of these batches. In all three cases, the prescription and giving the said medicine by the doctor in the investigation has not been confirmed in the primary investigation.
He said that while taking vigilance, as a precaution, the Central Government had issued an advisory in the year 2021 asking them not to give dextrometry medicine to children younger than 4 years. In this order, the state government has also issued advisory. On Friday, the Drug Controller of India has again issued an advisory saying that this medicine should be given to children older than 5 years. Especially children younger than 2 years should not be given this medicine under any circumstances. In the state too, instructions have been given to strictly follow this advisory.
Mission Director NHM Dr. Amit Yadav and concerned officials were present in the meeting.
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