In the wake of the tragic deaths of children linked to contaminated cough syrup, the central government has stated that it is confident that the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are taking appropriate action. The cough syrup, identified as Coldrif, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals based in Tamil Nadu, is suspected to be the cause of death of at least 24 children in Madhya Pradesh.
The deaths, primarily reported in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, occurred over the past month, with the children exhibiting symptoms of renal failure after consuming the syrup. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG) in the cough syrup, a toxic substance used in industrial solvents that can be fatal even in small amounts. The drug contained over 45% of diethylene glycol.
Following the incident, the drug has been banned in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has criticized authorities in Tamil Nadu for allegedly not cooperating with the investigation. He also questioned the licensing process of pharmaceutical companies in Tamil Nadu and demanded a regulatory investigation of Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Yadav has urged members of the Congress party to protest in Tamil Nadu, questioning the licensing and renewal processes of the factory.
Meanwhile, authorities in Madhya Pradesh have been conducting door-to-door surveys in the Chhindwara district to locate used cough syrup bottles and prevent further consumption of the product. Over 48,000 households have been surveyed thus far.
G. Ranganathan, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, has been arrested and remanded to 10 days of police custody. He faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drug adulteration, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Following his arrest, the company has been permanently shut down. A government pediatrician, Dr. Praveen Soni, who prescribed the syrup to many of the deceased children, has also been arrested. Two drug inspectors and a deputy controller of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) have been suspended, and the Controller has been transferred.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sought clarification from Indian officials regarding whether the toxic cough syrup was exported to other countries. This incident has resurfaced concerns about India's drug regulations, particularly concerning generic cough syrups. In 2022-23, the deaths of 66 children in Gambia and 23 children in Uzbekistan were linked to contaminated cough syrups manufactured in India.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ordered an investigation after a batch of the medication was found to contain dangerous levels of a toxic chemical. Authorities have launched inspections of 19 drug manufacturers across six states to identify quality control lapses and recommend improvements to prevent future incidents.
