The recent deaths of 20 children in India due to contaminated cough syrups have raised serious concerns about the country’s drug safety regulations, as reported by the World Health Organization. The incidents occurred in the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan regions and have been linked to three specific cough syrups containing a toxic substance known as diethylene glycol (DEG).
The affected syrups, named Coldrif (Sresan Pharmaceuticals), Respifresh (Rednex Pharmaceuticals), and ReLife (Shape Pharma), have ceased production following the discovery of DEG in their samples. An official investigation is underway to address the situation.
The WHO has issued a warning that the tainted cough syrups could potentially be distributed to other countries through unregulated channels, posing a significant health risk, especially to children. DEG is a highly toxic substance that can be fatal even in small doses and should never be ingested by humans.
In response to the incident, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, G Ranganathan, has been arrested, and the company’s manufacturing license is set to be permanently revoked. An inspection revealed multiple violations of manufacturing rules, including issues with staff qualifications, pest control, and storage conditions.
This unfortunate event is not the first of its kind involving Indian-made cough syrups. In recent years, similar incidents have led to numerous deaths in other countries due to contaminated products originating from India. Despite being a major drug producer globally, India faces challenges in detecting DEG contamination, particularly in less-resourced regions.
The WHO has urged for enhanced monitoring and screening measures to prevent further incidents of DEG contamination in pharmaceutical products, emphasizing the severe health risks associated with its consumption, such as multiorgan failure and neurological dysfunction, which have tragically resulted in numerous deaths, particularly among children.