Archive · 2 Jan 2026
Cough Syrup Controversy Shifts Consumer and Doctor Behavior
There's been a big change in how people and doctors are buying and using cough syrups in India.
After some kids got very sick from a certain brand of cough syrup, people are now choosing bigger, more trusted brands.
Doctors are also being extra careful about which brands they prescribe.
The government is even thinking about making it so you can only buy cough syrups with a doctor's note.
This is all because they want to keep everyone safe and make sure the medicines are good quality.
Some companies are also teaming up to sell their medicines in India.
It's all about making sure the medicines we take are safe and effective.
Consumers and doctors are shifting towards well-established cough syrup brands due to safety concerns.
October 2025 saw a dip in cough and cold liquid sales compared to September 2025.
The Union Health Ministry proposes to make cough syrups prescription-only by removing them from Schedule K.
The proposal follows incidents of child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh.
Pfizer and Cipla partnered to exclusively market and distribute four Pfizer brands in India.
- Who
- Consumers, doctors, Union Health Ministry, Pharmarac, Pfizer, Cipla
- What
- Shift in consumer and doctor behavior towards well-established cough syrup brands and proposed amendment to make cough syrups prescription-only
- When
- October 2025 to November 2025, with a draft notification circulated by the Union Health Ministry
- Where
- India, with specific incidents in Madhya Pradesh
- Why
- Due to alleged cough syrup-linked child deaths and concerns over public health and safety
- Sales Dip
- October 2025 sales dipped compared to September 2025
- November Sales
- ₹334 crore (same as September 2025)
- Unit Sales in November
- 3.76 crore
- Overall Segment Revenue
- ₹3,454 crore for the 12 months ended November 2025
- Proposed Amendment
- Removal of cough syrups from Schedule K
- Publication Period
- 30 days for objections and suggestions
- Contaminant
- Diethylene glycol (DEG) in cough syrup linked to child deaths
- Global Incidents
- Similar incidents in Gambia in 2022