Bhubaneswar, Oct 10: In another step towards patient safety for children below 5 years of age, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Govt of India have come up with an advisory to all States and Union Territories.
The advisory issued by the Ministry of health and family welfare hasunderlined to ensure judicious prescribing and dispensing of cough syrups for children. The advisory mentions, “Most of the cough illness in children are self-limiting and often resolve without pharmacological intervention”.
It further advises that cough and cold syrups should not be prescribed to children less than 2 years of age. These medicines are also not recommended for children below 5 years of age. Even for children above 5 years, the use of these medicines should be done after careful evaluation of health condition of the child, and close supervision of the doctor regarding appropriate dosing.
The advisory has emphasized following non-pharmacological measures like “adequate hydration, rest and supportive measures as first-line of approach”. All prescribers and dispensers in the filed of paediatric care across government and private sector health facilities have been advised to uphold these standards of care.
Parents, care takers of the children and public at large have been advised to strictly adhere to the prescription and advice of the doctors for better safety and wellness of their children.
Tags: prameyanews Health Odisha
