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WHO Investigates India’s Cough Syrup Deaths
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21 Mar 2025 - 3 min read
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Health and Safety16-Oct-2025
Kidney Failures Linked to Cough Syrup
**Summary of Key Facts and Developments:** - **Incident Overview:** - At least 25 children in Madhya Pradesh have reportedly died from kidney failure associated with the consumption of an adulterated cough syrup, ‘Coldrif’, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals based in Tamil Nadu. - **Latest Fatality:** - Ambika Vishwakarma, aged 3, from Chhindwara, succumbed to her condition on October 15, 2025, while undergoing treatment in Nagpur, Maharashtra. - She had been hospitalized since September 14, and initial investigations suggest she consumed the cough syrup bought over the counter without medical prescription. - **Health Impact:** - Renal failure cases linked to ‘Coldrif’ syrup involve children from multiple districts, including Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna. Two more children are under medical treatment in Nagpur. - Toxicology tests conducted by drug control authorities confirmed that the syrup contained 46% Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a harmful industrial solvent. - **Regulatory and Legal Actions:** - Madhya Pradesh's health officials have initiated investigations and preliminary checks on medical records of affected children. - Local authorities have arrested a physician, Praveen Soni, who allegedly prescribed ‘Coldrif’ syrup to multiple children and has been suspended. - The owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, G. Ranganathan, has also been arrested. - The deputy drug controller and two drug inspectors have been suspended for negligence. - **Government Response:** - Following the incidents, several states in India have enacted bans on the sale of 'Coldrif' syrup and have alerted drug control authorities for further inspection and regulation. - Tamil Nadu authorities have revoked the manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceuticals and shut down their operations in light of these events. - **Constitutional and Regulatory Framework:** - The situation raises concerns in the context of public health regulations and compliance with the Drug and Cosmetics Act, which mandates strict controls on the quality and safety of pharmaceuticals. - Locally, the reactive measures highlight the responsibilities outlined under the State's police powers to protect public health and safety. **Insight on Broader Implications:** - The tragic outcome emphasizes the critical importance of pharmaceutical regulation and the need for stringent quality control measures in the drug manufacturing sector to prevent future incidents of this nature. - It reveals systemic issues in drug prescription practices, medical oversight, and the enforcement of safety protocols that govern pharmaceutical distribution within India. **General Notes:** - The rising fatalities underscore a public health emergency that necessitates immediate government intervention and systemic policy reforms in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors to safeguard against such adulteration cases and ensure children's health security.
Not Found11-Oct-2025
News Article
### Summary Notes on Cough Syrup Contamination in Madhya Pradesh **Incident Overview:** - **Date of Initial Deaths:** Beginning September 2, 2025, with multiple reports of child fatalities attributed to kidney failure linked to a specific cough syrup. - **Affected Areas:** Primarily Parasia, Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, with additional cases in Betul and Pandhurna. - **Total Deaths:** 24 children so far, with some in critical condition noted. **Health and Regulatory Issues:** - **Common Medication:** Coldrif cough syrup was prescribed to multiple children by local physicians, allegedly leading to severe reactions that culminated in kidney failure. - **Toxic Substance:** Samples of Coldrif revealed contamination with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic substance not suitable for consumption. - **Legal References:** The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 prohibits the sale of adulterated or substandard drugs, though DEG is not explicitly named in these regulations. **Judicial and Government Responses:** - **Police Action:** Arrests of Sresan Pharmaceutical's owners and medical providers under criminal charges, including Sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. - **Investigations:** An investigation initiated by health authorities to trace the source and supply of the contaminated syrup, leading to seizures of 543 bottles thus far. **Health Department Actions:** - **Testing and Inspections:** The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have undertaken audits and tests of the implicated products, leading to halting production. - **Public Health Campaigns:** Deployment of 1,000 ASHA workers and 3,000 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives for community health surveys and to locate remaining contaminated bottles. **Economic and Regulatory Framework:** - **Drug Licensing:** The licensing process for drugs in India is overseen both centrally (CDSCO) and at State levels, creating a potential gap in safety checks due to decentralized responsibility. - **Manufacturing Oversight:** The Tamil Nadu Health Department found significant non-compliance at Sresan Pharma, including 39 critical observations and failure to perform quality checks over the past two years. **Constitutional and Legislative References:** - **Health as a State Subject:** Health regulation falls under State jurisdiction while CDSCO controls drug approvals for safety and efficacy at the national level. **International Implications:** - **Global Health Concerns:** The issue of contaminated cough syrups has previously led to fatalities abroad, as seen with cases in Gambia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan in 2022, highlighting a critical need for global oversight in pharmaceutical safety. **Conclusion:** The complications surrounding the contaminated cough syrup case in Madhya Pradesh illustrate systemic failures in drug safety regulation, the need for rigorous quality control mechanisms, and the importance of public health response strategies to prevent further tragedies. The situation warrants enhanced scrutiny of pharmaceutical processes and accountability for public health officials.
National and international importance.11-Oct-2025
Tragic Cough Syrup Contamination Incident
### Summary of Cough Syrup Contamination Incident in Madhya Pradesh #### Background - **Incident**: The tragic deaths of at least 24 children in Madhya Pradesh, with a majority being from Chhindwara, have been linked to the consumption of the contaminated cough syrup, Coldrif. - **Key Dates**: Deaths occurred predominantly in September 2025, with the first death recorded on September 2. #### Health Impact - **Deaths**: As of October 2025, 24 children died due to severe kidney failure after being prescribed Coldrif syrup. - **Symptoms**: Affected children exhibited symptoms such as vomiting, drowsiness, stomach pain, swelling, and acute kidney damage. #### Regulatory Findings - **Contamination**: Testing revealed that Coldrif contained diethylene glycol (DEG) at 48.6%, which is toxic and used industrially in antifreeze solutions. - **Historical Context**: Previous incidents of DEG contamination have been recorded in India, with significant child fatalities reported internationally linked to Indian-made syrups. #### Government and Health Responses - **Actions Taken**: - The Madhya Pradesh Health Department, along with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has been involved in investigations and confiscation of batches of Coldrif. - The Tamil Nadu Health Department suspended drug inspectors and initiated inspections at manufacturing sites. - Relevant legislation includes the **Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940**, which prohibits adulterated drugs but does not specify DEG. #### Legal Framework - **Laws Involved**: - The **Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023** - Sections dealing with culpable homicide and adulteration of drugs were invoked against responsible parties. - The **Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945** govern the safe manufacturing and distribution of drugs. #### Judicial Measures - The **Supreme Court dismissed a plea** related to the cough syrup crisis, indicating the judiciary's position on ongoing investigations and accountability measures. #### Administrative Measures - Over 1,000 ASHA workers and health professionals have been mobilized to conduct surveys and locate remaining bottles of the contaminated syrup in local areas. - A joint audit of cough syrup manufacturers has been initiated following identification and recall of contaminated products. #### Economic Considerations - The incident highlights weaknesses in India's pharmaceutical regulatory frameworks and emphasizes the need for stringent compliance checks and accountability measures in the manufacturing process. #### International Implications - The CDSCO has informed the **World Health Organization (WHO)** about the situation and confirmed that the contaminated products were not exported. #### Current Developments - Investigations continue to trace how a large batch of contaminated syrup reached Parasia, ensuring preventive measures against future occurrences. #### Conclusion This incident underscores the critical need for improved regulatory oversight, safety checks within India’s pharmaceutical sector, and the necessity of holding responsible parties accountable to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Polity and Governance09-Oct-2025
India's Public Hospital Fire Safety Issues
**Summary of Facts and Key Points: Public Hospital Fire Safety in India** 1. **Incident Overview**: - A fire at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Hospital resulted in the deaths of at least six critically ill patients. - The fire was reportedly caused by a short circuit in an adjacent storage room. - Eyewitness accounts highlight negligence in safety protocols, including malfunctioning alarms, absent fire extinguishers, and locked emergency exits. 2. **Historical Context**: - The Jaipur incident is not isolated; similar fires have occurred in various hospitals across India, illustrating a pattern of safety failures. - An investigation into major hospital fires over five years identified consistent issues: inadequate maintenance, lack of firefighting equipment, negligence in government inspections, and non-enforcement of safety regulations. 3. **Government Response**: - In reaction to the Jaipur fire, the Rajasthan government formed a six-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. - Previous fire incidents have resulted in a lack of accountability, with many responsible parties going unpunished or returning to professional roles post-disaster. 4. **Regulatory Framework**: - Fire safety in hospitals falls under the guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and building codes which have often been ignored. - Municipal fire inspections have been described as “perfunctory,” leading to rubber-stamping of safety certifications without thorough audits. 5. **Accountability Issues**: - There is a systemic lack of accountability for hospital owners, administrators, and service providers who are implicated in negligence and are often granted bail following fire incidents. - This trend reflects a broader societal indifference to safety and human life, particularly concerning vulnerable populations relying on public healthcare facilities. 6. **Economic Implications**: - The reliance on public hospitals by poorer demographics indicates significant socio-economic implications, as neglect in infrastructure directly affects these populations' access to safe medical care. 7. **Future Risks**: - The ongoing pattern of negligence poses a continuous threat, with experts suggesting that without concrete accountability measures, further disasters in public healthcare settings are inevitable. **Conclusion**: The recent fire at SMS Hospital underscores a critical need for enhanced fire safety measures, regulatory compliance, and systemic accountability in India's public healthcare infrastructure to prevent future tragedies.