Cough syrups are widely available over the counter as of now.
The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), India’s apex drug advisory body, in its meeting last month was also considering a proposal for exempting dried Ivy leaf extract sugar free cough syrup from the requirements of a prescription.
However, after deliberating the matter, the DTAB recommended “that a sub-committee should be constituted to examine the requirement of RMP for sale of various cough syrups in the country,” the minutes of the meeting said.
The sub-committee will also examine the proposal to exempt dried Ivy leaf extract cough syrup from the warning “to be sold by retail in the prescription of RMP only.”
India-made cough syrups have been under the scanner in the recent past with many countries linking it with deaths of children in their countries.
