Providing safe, quality and certified medicines to the people of the state is the priority of the government – Pushkar Singh Dhami

The Uttarakhand government has intensified its action to ensure strict compliance with the central government’s guidelines regarding banned cough syrups for children. Under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, teams from the Food Safety and Drug Administration Departments are conducting surprise inspections across the state. In the Dehradun region, the Drug Department inspected several medical stores and pediatric hospital stores, confiscating samples of pediatric cough syrup and sending them to the State Drug Laboratory for testing. Under the direction of Health Secretary and Commissioner Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, this intensive campaign is continuing in all districts. The department’s objective is to ensure that no medical store or hospital sells banned, unsafe, or unauthorized medicines, and to prevent any risk to children’s health.

Surprise Inspection Campaign in Dehradun Area:
In accordance with orders from Health Secretary and Commissioner Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar and guidelines from Additional Commissioner, FDA, and Drug Controller, Tajbar Singh Jaggi, a team from the Department of Pharmaceuticals conducted surprise inspections of medical stores and pediatric hospitals in the Dehradun area today. Additional Commissioner, FDA, and Drug Controller, Tajbar Singh Jaggi stated that during the inspection, several medical stores were found stockpiling pediatric cough syrups containing Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride. These medicines were seized as per regulations. Additionally, samples of six pediatric cough syrups were collected for testing under Form 17. The samples will now be sent to the State Drug Testing Laboratory, where their quality and validity will be assessed.

The department is strict regarding the compliance of rules.
Additional Commissioner FDA and Drug Controller Tajbar Singh Jaggi said that during the inspection it was also found that Coldrif, Respifresh TR, Relife cough syrup were not available at any medical store. The department clarified that the purpose of the inspection is to ensure that only approved, safe and medically accepted medicines are available in the state. The department has warned all the drug sellers that if unauthorized or banned medicines are found at any store, strict action will be taken against them under the Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and related rules.