India, Oct. 8 -- In the aftermath of children's deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after consuming Coldrif cough syrup, the Maharashtra government has barred the sale of children's syrups without a doctor's prescription. A circular to this effect was issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Tuesday.

The FDA has also directed all chemists and druggists to ensure that all drugs under Schedule H, H1 and X will be sold only with a doctor's prescription as mandated in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

"It has been directed to all the retailers that they should not sell the syrups for paediatric patients without a prescription from doctors," states the circular issued by DR Gahane, drug controller, on Tuesday.

Schedule H l...