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Coldrif Syrup: Following the deaths of infants and children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to Coldrif Cough Syrup, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has immediately banned the sale, distribution, and use of batch number SR-13. Anyone in possession of this syrup has been instructed to report it to drug control authorities.
The Uttar Pradesh Drugs Department has also ordered an investigation into the syrup. Currently, Coldrif Cough Syrup has been banned in Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. So far, 16 children have died due to this syrup in Madhya Pradesh, while three children have died in Rajasthan.
Investigation and Seizure Actions in Uttar Pradesh
The Assistant Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh has directed drug inspectors in all districts to sample Coldrif Syrup from pharmaceutical companies and medical stores and immediately seize any potentially dangerous syrup. Strict instructions have been issued to all drug inspectors in the state.
This action was taken primarily based on a letter received from the State Licensing Authority of Madhya Pradesh, which stated that the syrup manufactured by M/s Sresan Pharmaceutical, Kanchipuram, contained a harmful substance called Diethylene Glycol. This chemical can be fatal to children.
All medical stores and hospitals have been instructed to collect samples of this syrup and send them to the Lucknow laboratory for testing. When collecting samples, it must be ensured that the same batch number is not sampled more than once.
In addition, samples of Propylene Glycol from the manufacturing units where this syrup is produced will also be tested. The Uttar Pradesh Medical Supplies Corporation has also been requested to stop its distribution and inform authorities if this syrup is in their stock.
Warning and Strictness in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand Health Secretary and Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar has directed all District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers in the state not to administer any cough or cold medicine to children under the age of two.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar stated that such medicines should not be routinely used for children under the age of five and should only be administered on the advice of a specialist physician, in the correct dosage, and for the minimum duration. He directed all districts to have drug inspectors collect samples of cough syrups and have them tested in laboratories.
Actions also taken in Kerala and Telangana
The Telangana Drugs Control Administration also issued a public alert for the SR-13 batch and banned its use. The agency warned that the ingredient, Diethylene Glycol, present in the syrup could pose a serious health risk. The Drugs Control Department of Kerala has also banned its sale.
CDSCO Launches Extensive Investigation
Following the deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has initiated major action. CDSCO teams inspected pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. 19 samples, including cough syrups, antibiotics, and antipyretics, were taken for testing. The primary objective of these inspections was to uncover deficiencies in drug quality and recommend improvements to the production process to prevent such tragedies in the future.
