WHO to India: Was cough medicine linked to child deaths been exported?

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation has sought clarification from the central government on whether the cough medicine that killed children in India was exported to other countries. The WHO also said that it will examine in detail whether a global warning should be issued on the use of Coldrif syrup, which killed 20 children in Madhya Pradesh. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had linked the deaths of at least 70 children in The Gambia from acute kidney injuries in 2022 to contaminated cough syrups made by the India-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals. The World Health Organisation had warned that four cough syrups exported from India to Gambia were of substandard quality and could have caused the deaths of children, months before the CDS report was released.

Coldrif syrup manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Tamil Nadu was found to contain dangerous levels of the toxin diethylene glycol. Subsequently, states including Kerala banned the sale and use of the drug Coldrif. Three children died in Rajasthan after consuming Kayson Pharma's dextromethorphan hydrobromide syrup. Five children in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, are in critical condition. The police had arrested Dr. Praveen Soni, who prescribed the drug.

Centre blames Tamil Nadu

The Union Health Ministry has said that Tamil Nadu has failed to take action against the manufacturers of Coldrif syrup. The Centre has asked why the license of Srisan Pharmaceuticals was not cancelled, and clarified that although it is not a case for blaming each other, such things cannot be avoided. The Union Health Ministry's statement comes after the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department's report said that Srisan Pharmaceuticals had committed more than 350 violations. However, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian responded that the state of Tamil Nadu took swift action and prevented further accidents.