MP and Kerala Ban Coldrif Cough Syrup Following Reports of Adulteration and Child Deaths
The Union Health Ministry has launched risk-based inspections of 19 drug manufacturing units after the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department found diethylene glycol (DEG) above permissible limits in 'Coldrif' cough syrup. Produced by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Kancheepuram, the syrup is linked to at least 10 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. While the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) initially found some samples free of DEG, state authorities in MP and Kerala have prohibited its sale. DEG and ethylene glycol are toxic industrial solvents sometimes used as cheap, illegal substitutes for pharmaceutical-grade glycerine, leading to severe health risks including renal failure.
Key Points
- The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department identified a batch of Coldrif as 'not of standard quality' due to DEG adulteration.
- Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a poisonous substance that can cause renal failure and death, especially in children.
- The Union Health Ministry is conducting risk-based inspections across six states to identify quality failures in pharma units.
- There is a discrepancy between state FDA findings and initial CDSCO reports regarding the presence of DEG in specific samples.
- The ban highlights ongoing challenges in pharmaceutical oversight and the risks of using industrial-grade materials in medicine.
Exam Facts
- Manufacturer: Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu.
- Toxicants: Diethylene glycol (DEG) and Ethylene glycol (EG).
- Regulator: Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
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