Three Indian cough medicines dangerous: WHO with warning

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against three Indian cough medicines, including Coldrif, which has killed 22 children in Madhya Pradesh. It has asked the Tamil Nadu government to shut down the manufacturer of the medicine, Sresan Pharmaceuticals, after it confirmed that the medicines were used in the deaths of 22 children in Madhya Pradesh. The medicines are dangerous and should be reported if they are being used in other countries. Some batches of Coldrif by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, RespFresh TR by Nednex Pharmaceuticals and ReLife by Shape Pharma were found to be dangerous. The WHO had earlier asked India if the medicines were exported to other countries. The Drugs Standard Control Organisation had informed the WHO that Coldrif syrup contained 500 times the permissible level of diethylene glycol. It had also clarified that no such medicines were exported from India to other countries.

The Tamil Nadu government had shut down Shresan Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Coldrif syrup, after it was confirmed that the syrup was given to the children who died in Madhya Pradesh. The company's owner, G Ranganathan, was arrested. The doctor Praveen Soni, who prescribed the medicine to the children, was also arrested. The court denied bail to Praveen Soni yesterday.