Rajasthan drug controller suspended over deaths from 'substandard' cough syrups
What's the story
The Rajasthan government has suspended Drug Controller Rajaram Sharma after two children died and several others fell ill from allegedly consuming substandard cough syrups. The syrups were distributed under the Chief Minister's Free Medicine Scheme. The Health Department cited quality control failures and alleged that Sharma interfered in setting medicine standards based on salt content.
Investigation underway
Rajasthan bans supply of cough syrups with dextromethorphan
Rajasthan has also banned the supply of cough syrups with dextromethorphan from all manufacturers after multiple batches failed quality tests. The Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) tested 10,119 samples of Kayson Pharma's medicines since 2012 and found 42 substandard. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma ordered a detailed investigation into how these medicines passed existing checks and what failures occurred in the quality assurance process.
Committee formation
Expert committees to probe quality assurance failures
An expert committee will probe the quality assurance failures in the case of Kayson Pharma's medicines. Subsequently, a second committee will recommend further action in the public interest. The government has also issued an advisory against using dextromethorphan in children under two years of age, following earlier guidance from the Centre. Labels warning risks to children and pregnant women will now be mandatory on relevant medicines.
Product ban
Tamil Nadu bans sale of 'Coldrif' cough syrup
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has banned the sale of "Coldrif" cough syrup after reports linked it to the deaths of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The state ordered immediate removal from the market and froze existing stocks. The syrup, manufactured by a Chennai-based company, was supplied to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry. Authorities suspect contamination with Diethylene Glycol, a toxic chemical known to cause kidney failure.
National advisory
Union Health Ministry advises against prescribing cough, cold medications
The Union Health Ministry has advised against prescribing cough and cold medications to children under two years old. This comes after nine children died in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district and two in Rajasthan. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath alleged contamination could have occurred due to mixing with industrial brake oil solvents, raising concerns about safety practices in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Test results from government labs are awaited.