The case of children’s deaths due to poisonous phlegm syrup across the country is increasing rapidly. After the death of 11 children in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh and 3 in Rajasthan, the administration has started major action. The Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) has written a letter to the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take strict action against the manufacturer of the ‘Coldrif’ syrup under the ‘most serious crimes’. Sresan Pharmaceutical of Tamil Nadu makes this syrup.
The Union Health Secretary is going to organize a video conference with the Principal Secretaries, Health Secretaries and Drug Controllers of all states and union territories, in which the rational use of phlegm syrup and the quality of medicines will be discussed.
11 deaths in Madhya Pradesh: Doctor arrested, FIR on company
The administration took strict action after the death of 11 children associated with cold cuff syrup in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. Late on Saturday, Dr. Praveen Soni was arrested, who wrote this syrup to most of the children in the dead. Earlier on Saturday, an FIR was lodged against the operators of Doctor Soni and Coldrif Syrup making Sresse Pharmaceuticals at Parasia police station.
The case was registered under Section 27 (A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, sections 105 and 276 of BNS. This action was taken on the complaint of BMO Ankit Sahalm of Parasia CHC. The Lab report found that Coldrif Kapha Syrup had 48.6% of the amount of Diathylene Glycol (DEG) in Cold Cuff Syrup, which pose a serious threat to health.
Chhindwara Collector Harendra Narayan said, “We have talked to SP. All lab reports and documents have been submitted. Investigation will detect deficiencies. FIRs have been lodged against the manufacturer company, as the lab report has found a high amount of dangerous substances. The district immediately banned the sale of drugs. The children who consume before the ban are expected to recover. There are 11 deaths in Parasia sub -divisions.
Name of dead children:-
1- Shivam
2- Method
3- Adnan
4- Usaid
5- Rishika
6- Hetansh
7- Development
8- Chanchalesh
9- Sandhya
Two deaths are reported right now
10- Shreya (died on 16 September but report came yesterday)
11- Yogita (4 October)
The Madhya Pradesh government on Saturday imposed a complete ban on the sale of Coldrif Syrup. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on X, “The deaths of children in Chhindwara are extremely tragic. The sale of this syrup has been banned. Other products of the company will also be banned. The culprits will not be spared.”
3 children died in Rajasthan
Ansh, a six -year -old child, died on Saturday in Jaipur, Rajasthan, who was referred to JK Lawn Hospital from Churu. The family claims that the child was given phlegm syrup at home, after which his condition deteriorated.
After being admitted to a hospital in Churu for three days, the child who reached JK Lawn Hospital in Jaipur at 4 am on Saturday died at 10 am.
The official said that the child was suffering from acute brain fever. This death is part of the deaths of 13 children, in which 11 occurred in Madhya Pradesh and two in Rajasthan.
Earlier, Rajasthan’s two deaths occurred in Bharatpur and Sikar, where it is alleged that phlegm syrup under the free medicine scheme of government hospitals Dextromethorphan hydrobromide syrup ip Was given This medicine prepares a private pharma company KAYSONS Pharma. Here too, after drinking the syrup, there was talk of kidney failure of children.
However, officials claim that the syrup was found safe in the investigation. State Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said, “We got the drug tested twice. First the drug controller and then the RMSCL tested. There was no malfunction in it.”
Vigilance in Telangana and Kerala, ban on sale
Telangana Drugs Control Administration issued a ‘Public Alert-Stop Use Notice’ on Coldrif Syrup (batch number SR-13) on Saturday. Focusing on the reports of children’s deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the agency said that adulteration of DEG has been found in the syrup, which is a poisonous substance. In Kerala too, the Drugs Control Department suspended the sale of Coldrif Syrup.
Health Minister Veena George said, “Flagged batch is not sold in Kerala, but samples have been sent for investigation. Samples of other phlegm syrup are also being done.”
CDSCO’s strong action, investigation in 6 states
The Central Drug Regulatory i.e. CDSCO has started inspecting the drug factory in six states Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra after the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. 19 samples, including phlegm syrup, antibiratics and antibiotics, are taken. The purpose of inspection is to find out shortcomings in drug quality and suggest procedure reforms to prevent such incidents in future.
48.6% dyethylene glycol in coldrif syrup
According to the sources of the Ministry of Health, the amount of Diathylene Glycol (DEG) has been found to be 48.6% in the sample of Coldrif Syrup, a unit of Esresan Pharma in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. After this, the Tamil Nadu government banned the sale of syrup and ordered the removal of the market. The factory was inspected and new samples were taken. The Madhya Pradesh government has asked the Himachal Pradesh Drug Authority to investigate other suspected cough syrup.
The ministry clarified that DEG-Eg was not found in CDSCO’s 6 samples (including antibiotics, antipyretics, and ondensetron). These samples were of other medicines fed to the sick children of Chhindwara. The state-level inquiry into the sample of Coldrif and other suspected syrup is going on. Three samples tested by Madhya Pradesh Food and Drugs Administration were also found to be clear.
Now the team of experts from National Institute of Virology, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, CDSCO and IIMS-Nagpur is analyzing the causes of deaths in Chhindwara area. Since September 7, 11 children have died of kidney failure, while 13 children (8 Chhindwara and Nagpur) are Aljrat.
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