Kolkata, October 16 (IANS). The West Bengal government has taken strict steps regarding the sale and marketing of cough medicines in the state. The State Drug Control Directorate has issued a new guideline and instructions, intensifying surveillance on companies selling and promoting cough syrup. According to a senior government official, this step has been taken to ensure public safety and avoid any untoward incident in future.
This decision has been taken after the ban on cough syrup named Coldrif. Earlier this medicine was banned in Madhya Pradesh, where many children had died due to its consumption. After this, the West Bengal government also closed it in its state. The government has called this a precautionary step so that no innocent person loses his life in future.
According to the guidelines, no shopkeeper or company will be able to sell the medicine manufactured by any other company in its own name unless it has a written agreement with that company. This provision has been made mandatory in section 84D of the guidelines. At the same time, under Section 84E, companies that market medicines will now be considered equally responsible with the manufacturing company for the quality and legal responsibilities of the medicine.
The Drug Control Directorate has said that the companies which are manufacturing cough medicines from outside West Bengal and selling them here, will have to submit a copy of their manufacturing agreement to the Drug Control Department within 15 days. This copy should be sent to the official email. The department will check these documents and ensure that everything is as per the rules.
Along with this, the companies have also been instructed to regularly keep an eye on the ‘Drug Alert’ portal run by the Central Government, so that they get timely information about new warnings related to the quality and safety of medicines.
A senior official of the Drug Control Department said that this decision will curb the sale of spoiled or unlicensed cough syrup in the market. This will also increase the confidence of the customers that the medicine they are getting is safe and made as per the rules.
It is noteworthy that a few days ago, the Union Health Ministry had also issued a warning regarding cough and cold medicines given to children. The ministry had said that special caution should be taken in the use of such medicines. Especially for small children, these medicines should not be used without doctor’s advice.
After the incidents of death of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the administration across the country has increased its vigilance regarding cough syrup. Now the health departments of the states have also come into action mode and have become extremely cautious about checking and monitoring the quality of medicines.
–IANS
PK/DSC