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India Bans Over-The-Counter Sale Of Cough Syrups, Makes Prescriptions Mandatory

Employees attend to customers as bottles of cough syrup are displayed on shelves at a chemist's shop in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on June 16, 2026. India has banned the over-the-counter sale of all cough syrups, requiring consumers to obtain a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner before purchasing the medicines. The new rules restrict cough syrup sales to licensed pharmacies, particularly in villages and small towns, where some syrup-based medicines were previously exempt from standard drug-sale requirements. This change follows increased regulatory scrutiny after contamination-linked child deaths in recent years. Previously, certain cough syrups were included on an exemption list under drug regulations, allowing them to be sold over the counter under relaxed rules. (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto)

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