Killer cough syrup, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• 24 children in Madhya Pradesh died in September 2025 due to kidney failure after consuming Coldrif cough syrup.
• The cough syrup was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical.
• Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Tamil Nadu manufactured the contaminated syrup, and its license has been suspended.
• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated a joint audit of cough syrup manufacturers across states.
• A Special Investigative Team arrested the proprietor of Sresan Pharma, and a criminal case was filed against a doctor who prescribed the syrup.

Detailed Insights:

• The contamination was discovered after multiple children from Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna districts developed severe symptoms like vomiting, stomach ache, and inability to urinate.
• Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a cheaper alternative to pharmaceutical-grade solvents and is used to cut costs, posing a significant risk to public health.
• The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, prohibits the use of adulterated or substandard substances, but it does not explicitly list DEG.
• While the CDSCO approves new drugs, the licensing for manufacturing, sale, and distribution is handled by state-level authorities, creating regulatory gaps.
• The Tamil Nadu Health Department suspended drug inspectors for failing to conduct quality checks, and the central drug inspectors have not inspected facilities in Tamil Nadu for six years.
• The Madhya Pradesh government is investigating how over 600 bottles of the contaminated syrup were dispatched from Jabalpur to Chhindwara.
• The CDSCO has informed the World Health Organization about the contaminated syrups and has clarified that none of these products were exported.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Diethylene Glycol (DEG): A toxic chemical used in industrial applications, sometimes substituted for safer solvents in pharmaceuticals.
• CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation): The national regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices in India.
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: Indian law that regulates the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs and cosmetics.