The Jharkhand government, on the instructions of the Health Ministry, has banned the sale, purchase, and use of three cough syrups—Coldrif, Respifresh, and Relife—with immediate effect. This move comes after reports of child deaths linked to these medicines in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Notification issued on Health Ministry’s instructions
Jharkhand’s Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ajay Kumar Singh told news agency PTI that, based on the instructions of the central Health Ministry, the State Drug Control Directorate has issued a notification banning the sale, purchase, and use of these three syrups. This government move follows a directive from Health Minister Irfan Ansari, who directed the state health department to ban these drugs and issue a notification.
In a statement, Health Minister Ansari said, “Any compromise with public health will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible. The Health Minister’s responsibility is to save lives, not endanger them.”
“Be careful when prescribing medicines.”
The notification directs drug controllers and inspectors in all districts to collect samples of these three syrups from medical stores and drug distributors and send them for laboratory testing. If any syrup is found to be harmful, it will be immediately confiscated and destroyed. Doctors and pharmacists have been urged to exercise extreme caution and strictly follow all regulations when prescribing or dispensing the medicines.
