Srinagar, June 23 -- The prohibition on the sale of syrups without prescription is a watershed moment in India's public health landscape. For years, cough syrups and similar liquid formulations were treated casually, sold over the counter even in the smallest villages, often without oversight. Parents relied on them as quick remedies, children were exposed to risks without awareness, and in some cases, syrups became substances of addiction. What was overlooked as harmless has now been recognised as a potential danger, and the new rules are a corrective that place safety above convenience or revenue.

This move is about people, it is about ensuring that families no longer face the hidden dangers of contaminated or misused medicines. It is ...