No more over-the-counter cough syrups: Centre makes prescription mandatory for syrup medicines

You will now require a doctor’s prescription to buy cough syrups and other syrup medicines.The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday issued a notification under which syrup medicines, including cough syrups, will no longer be available over the counter, news agency ANI reported.As per the report, under the amendment, the word "Syrups" has been removed from item number (7) under serial number 13 of Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945. The change comes after the Centre amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, through the Drugs (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified in the Official Gazette on June 9.The amendment follows a draft notification issued on December 29, 2025, inviting objections and suggestions from stakeholders and the public.

The government said all comments received on the draft rules were considered before the final notification was issued.The notification stated, "Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 12 and 33 of the said Act, the Central Government, after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Drugs Rules, 1945, namely."The amendment further read, "In the Drugs Rules, 1945, in Schedule K, in the column, under the heading Class of Drugs, against serial number 13, in item number (7), the word 'Syrups,' shall be omitted."