LUCKNOW, Dec. 28 -- After flagging the sale of 3.27 crore bottles of codeine-based cough syrups worth Rs.704 crore in Uttar Pradesh, Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) has decided to push for systemic changes in the wholesale drug sale licencing framework to prevent illegal diversion and misuse of pharmaceuticals, senior FSDA officials confirmed on Saturday.

FSDA commissioner Roshan Jacob said the department would submit a proposal to the state government seeking procedural changes in the wholesale drug licencing system. She said the aim was to strengthen oversight and plug gaps that allow excessive and unverified supply of narcotic-category medicines.

"At the same time, FSDA is writing to the Government of India (GoI) seeking ...