India is facing a public health crisis after at least 20 children have died, allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrup. The cough syrup, identified as "Coldrif", was found to contain dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG). DEG is a toxic substance used in industrial solvents that can be fatal if ingested, even in small amounts.
The deaths have occurred in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, with the first death reported on September 2nd. Following the deaths, three states – Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu – have banned Coldrif. The drug was manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, based in Tamil Nadu. Authorities have launched investigations into the manufacturer. Police in Madhya Pradesh have opened a manslaughter investigation, naming Sresan Pharmaceuticals and the doctor who prescribed the syrup as the accused.
The crisis has triggered a multi-pronged response. Madhya Pradesh is conducting door-to-door surveys to locate and confiscate remaining bottles of the syrup. Simultaneously, the federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has ordered an investigation and has inspected 19 drug manufacturers across six states to identify lapses in quality control.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped in, requesting urgent reassurances from India and seeking clarification on whether the contaminated syrup was exported. The WHO has also stated they will decide whether to issue a Global Medical Products Alert after receiving official confirmation from Indian authorities. Such an alert could lead to global recalls and stricter monitoring of pharmaceutical exports from India.
This is not an isolated incident. Concerns about India's drug regulations, particularly regarding generic cough syrups, have resurfaced. There have been multiple instances of child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrups manufactured in India. In 2022-23, the deaths of 66 children in Gambia and 23 in Uzbekistan were traced to Indian-made syrups. In 2019, 22 children died in the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, and Kashmir after ingesting contaminated cough syrup. In 1998, 33 children died in Gurugram after consuming syrup containing DEG.
These incidents have damaged India's reputation as a major pharmaceutical producer. The current crisis has prompted calls for stricter drug quality control and regulatory reform within India's pharmaceutical sector to prevent future tragedies. The incident has raised serious concerns over India’s pharmaceutical safety standards.
