The campaign of the Drug Department regarding health protection of children in Uttarakhand is continuing. The department has intensified raids in all the districts. Surprise inspections are going on at medical stores, wholesale depots, pharma industries and children’s hospitals across the state to check the quality and legality of cough syrup.

Teams of drug inspectors conducted surprise inspection campaigns in other districts including Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haldwani, Almora and Bageshwar. So far, more than 350 samples have been sent for testing, while the licenses of more than a dozen medical stores have been cancelled.

The state government has appealed to all pediatricians not to prescribe banned syrups to children below two years of age under any circumstances. This entire campaign is being monitored by the Health Secretary and Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, who is reviewing the progress of the action daily by taking feedback from the teams.

The campaign is being led by Additional Commissioner (FDA) Tajbar Singh Jaggi, under whose guidelines drug inspection teams across the state are active. The department has warned that strict legal action will be taken against those who violate the rules.