India has launched its first-ever “Cough Clinics” to upgrade how primary care physicians assess and treat respiratory symptoms, particularly cough. Spearheaded by a partnership between Kenvue (maker of Benadryl) and the Association of Physicians of India (API), this initiative brings structured, evidence-based respiratory care training to the national stage—addressing a major gap in systematic, accurate cough management.

Why does this matter?
Over 70% of patients are currently prescribed cough medication without proper diagnosis, leading to higher costs and potential side effects. The majority of these are irrational mixtures, which can be especially harmful to vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.

Main Points

• India’s “Cough Clinics” are pioneering centers developed to train primary care doctors in structured cough evaluation and management using validated evidence-based best practices.
• The programme consists of three comprehensive modules covering cough evaluation, sound recognition, and rational prescribing—including the use of a standardized Cough Categorization Tool.
• The first clinic was launched in Mumbai, with nine more planned for major cities such as Lucknow, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Kolkata.
• Training is anchored by leading pulmonologists; all participating physicians are assessed, ensuring measurable knowledge gains.
• The goal is to transition away from empirical, experience-based cough treatment that often leads to unnecessary, costly, and sometimes risky multi-ingredient medications.

Key Stat(s)

• 70% of Indians with cough receive treatment without a confirmed diagnosis, leading to a high use of irrational multi-drug formulations—increasing costs and risk of side effects, especially among children and the elderly.
• Over 1,000 healthcare professionals across India are expected to be trained during the first year.

Example(s)

• The inaugural Cough Clinic at BSES Hospital, Mumbai, is already operational, providing structured training aligned with the new protocol.
• Physicians participating in the program are evaluated on knowledge shifts and user experience, measured by Net Promoter Score (NPS).

Trend(s)

• A nationwide move toward science-backed, symptom-based care is underway, replacing tradition-driven, empirical practices.
• Emphasis is growing on non-invasive, clinically validated diagnostic tools—such as the Cough Categorization Tool—to simplify and target treatment.

What’s new about this approach?

• Courses led by pulmonologists, designed by the Association of Physicians of India.
• Real-world, hands-on learning modules.
• Nationwide reach, with 10 clinics opening in major cities in 2025.
• Ongoing assessment to ensure genuine knowledge improvement for all participants.

The Solution: Cough Clinics
These new clinics provide structured, evidence-based training for primary care physicians, arming them with the latest clinical tools—such as the Cough Categorization Tool. This enables doctors to quickly and accurately assess cough types, recognize warning signs, and prescribe treatment that is both safe and effective.

Results Worth Noting:
Already, the first Cough Clinic at BSES Hospital in Mumbai is training doctors in this new methodology. The plan targets over 1,000 healthcare professionals in the first year alone, with feedback loops in place to ensure lasting impact.

Takeaway for Doctors and Clinics:

• Embrace evidence-based tools for cough management—ditch the guesswork.
• Encourage your staff to pursue structured clinical training.
• Implement a standardized assessment to monitor improvements.
• Focus on patient safety and cost-effectiveness.

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