Coldrif Syrup: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has immediately banned the sale, distribution and use of batch number SR-13 in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after the deaths of newborns and children from newborns and children. Those who have this syrup have been instructed to give information to the Drug Control Officers.
At the same time, the Drugs Department of Uttar Pradesh has also issued orders to investigate this syrup. Currently, Coldrif Cuff Syrup has been banned in Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. So far 16 children have died due to this syrup in Madhya Pradesh, while three children have lost their lives in Rajasthan.
Investigation and seizure action in Uttar Pradesh
The Assistant Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh has instructed the drug inspectors of all the districts to take a sample of cold syrup in pharma companies and medical stores and the danger syrup should be seized immediately. Strict instructions have been issued to all drug inspectors in the state.
This action has been mainly taken on the basis of a letter received by the State License Authority of Madhya Pradesh, in which the harmful element called Diethylene Glycol was found in this syrup manufactured by Messrs Sresan Pharmaceutical, Kanchipuram. This chemical element can be fatal for children.
All medical stores and hospitals have been instructed to collect samples of this syrup and send them to Lucknow laboratory. When collecting samples, it has to be ensured that a sample of the same batch number is not taken more than once.
Apart from this, the propylene glycol samples will also be examined in the manufacturing units in which this syrup is formed. The UP Medical Supplies Corporation has also been requested that if there is this syrup in their reserves, then stop the distribution and inform the authorities.
Warning and strictness in Uttarakhand
Health Secretary of Uttarakhand and Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration Dr. R.K. Rajesh Kumar has instructed all the District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers of the state not to give any kind of cough or cold medicine to children under two years of age.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar said that such drugs should not be used regularly for children below five years and only on the advice of a specialist doctor, they should be given in the right dose and for a minimum period. He instructed all the districts to collect samples of cuff syrup and get tested in laboratories.
Action also taken in Kerala and Telangana
The Telangana Drugs Control Administration also issued a public alert for the SR-13 batch and banned its use. The agency warned that an element called Diethylene Glycol present in the syrup may pose serious health risk. The Drugs Control Department of Kerala has also banned its sale.
CDSCO launched extensive investigation
After the deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) has initiated major action. CDSCO teams inspected drug construction units in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. During this time 19 samples including phlegm syrup, antibiotics and antipyretics were taken for examination. The main objective of this investigation is to highlight the quality of drugs and recommend improving the production process to prevent such tragedies in the future.