New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry swiftly responded to the heartbreaking deaths of children linked to contaminated cough syrups by directing all states to initiate immediate pharmacy inspections and enforce stringent drug quality norms.
The crackdown follows alarming revelations from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, where toxic Diethylene Glycol (DEG)— a deadly chemical — exceeded safe limits in the ‘Coldrif’ syrup, prompting the Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer’s licence cancellation and a police case.
Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava chaired a high-level meeting with state health officials, drug controllers, ICMR, NCDC, and DGHS representatives. “We will not compromise on child safety or drug quality,” the Ministry asserted, mandating strict adherence to Revised Schedule M standards for pharmaceutical firms. Experts urged minimal use of cough remedies for kids, noting most cases resolve naturally, but overuse risks severe side effects.
Key directives include ramping up surveillance via the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), timely reporting from public and private health centres, and curbing unnecessary sales at chemists. States must also prepare for rapid joint responses during outbreaks. Dr Rajeev Bahl of ICMR warned against paediatric cough meds due to potential harms, while DGHS’s Dr Sunita Sharma announced forthcoming guidelines for parents, doctors, and pharmacists.
DCGI Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi granted firms until December 2025 for compliance upgrades but stressed zero tolerance for lapses.
States reported mixed progress: Rajasthan found no direct links but launched awareness drives, while Maharashtra assured quality care for affected children in Nagpur. With Kerala already banning Coldrif and other regions on alert, the Centre’s zero-tolerance stance signals a renewed war on substandard drugs, aiming to shield the vulnerable from silent killers in medicine bottles.
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