India ends OTC cough syrup sales; chemists now need prescriptions to dispense
Government amends Drugs Rules 1945, removing cough syrups from Schedule K exemptions. Only licensed pharmacies can dispense on prescription, squeezing rural chemists and small retail outlets that lacked the 1,000-population threshold license. AIOCD and distribution channels brace for nationwide disruption.
Government bars over-the-counter sale of cough syrups, amending Drugs Rules 1945 to remove syrups from Schedule K exemptions. Only licensed pharmacies can dispense them on prescription, impacting chemists, rural retail outlets and pharma distribution channels nationwide.