Hubballi, Karnataka – octoberโ 6, 2025 – KMC-RI Hospital in Hubballi has ceasedโค prescribing cough syrup to children under the age of two as a precautionary measure, following reports of child fatalities linked โtoโค cough syrup consumption in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Hospital administration has directed pediatricians to refrain from prescribing or โขadministering any cough syrup to patients in this age group “under any circumstances,” according to โKMC-RI Medical Superintendent Dr. Eshwar Hasabi. “We have not โrecorded any cases in our hospital where children developed complications due to coughโ syrup โconsumption. But as a precaution, we have stopped giving syrupโ to kids below two years. Pediatricians have beenโฃ directed to prescribeโ only tablets,” Dr. Hasabi stated.
The move comes amid โgrowing public concern.โข A pediatrician noted that parents are increasingly requesting tablets instead of syrups for their children, and even adults are showing hesitancy towards syrups. โ”Parents bringing children suffering from cold,fever,and โคcough to city โขclinics,private โor governmentโ hospitals areโข requesting doctors to prescribe tablets only. Even adultsโ are hesitant to consume syrups. Incidents in โRajasthan and MP have created fear among them. The government โคshould take steps toโค create awareness,” the pediatrician said.
While the District Health Officer S N Honakeri confirmed the health department has not issued a formal order regarding cough syrup prescriptions, he acknowledged that someโ hospitals have voluntarily implemented the ban.
Sanjay Mudgal, drug controller of Dharwad, stated that Coldrif syrup – the specific product reportedly linkedโ to the deaths – is not currently supplied to government hospitals inโฃ Karnataka. Inspections of privateโ pharmacies โคhave confirmed its unavailability, โwithโฃ instructions issued โคto prevent itsโฃ sale should it be discovered.
