A public health crisis has emerged in Rajasthan, India, following the deaths of 11 children. The tragic events are linked to a contaminated cough syrup manufactured by Kaysons Pharma. In response, the Rajasthan government has taken swift action, suspending the state's drug controller and halting the distribution of all medicines produced by Kaysons Pharma.
The implicated cough syrup contained Dextromethorphan HBr, a common cough suppressant. While the government initially denied that the deaths were linked to the syrup, stating the medicine was not prescribed by government hospitals, they later banned the distribution of cough syrups containing Dextromethorphan. The government also banned all 19 types of medicines supplied by Kaysons Pharma until further notice.
The deaths have sparked a political controversy, with opposition leaders criticizing the state government's handling of the situation. Concerns have also been raised about the quality control processes and the supply of medicines through the Chief Minister's free medicine scheme.
An investigation into the matter is currently underway. An expert committee has been formed to probe the incident and determine the exact cause of contamination. Samples of the cough syrup have been sent to a government laboratory for testing. Authorities are also implementing stricter safety guidelines for Dextromethorphan and clear warning labels on harmful drugs.
Adding another layer of concern, the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) revealed that 42 out of 10,119 drug samples manufactured by Kaysons Pharma had failed quality tests since 2012. As a precaution, the corporation has stopped the supply of all 19 drugs supplied by the company until further orders. Furthermore, RMSCL has banned the distribution of all medicines containing dextromethorphan, even those manufactured by other companies.
It has been revealed that Kaysons Pharma was previously penalized in 2023 and February 2025 for violating drug safety laws, and the syrup failed 40 quality checks. The company had also been debarred by the state health department for two years due to non-compliance of drug supply contracts. The decision stemmed from the company's failure to deliver medicines as per agreements with the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Ltd (RMSCL).
These incidents highlight critical issues within the drug regulation and quality control systems in India. The central government has issued an advisory following the deaths of 12 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The investigation aims to identify the lapses that allowed the distribution of contaminated drugs and to implement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
