GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 9th Oct: The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised serious concerns over the lack of regulatory safeguards in India’s domestic pharmaceutical screening system following the recent deaths of several children caused by adulterated cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The global health body warned of a “regulatory gap” in screening for toxic industrial chemicals — diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG) — in medicines sold within India. It also cautioned that contaminated products could reach other countries through unregulated export channels.
The alert follows the death of at least 20 children, most of them under five, who reportedly died of kidney failure after consuming adulterated cough syrup administered for cold and cough symptoms. Tests revealed that samples of Coldrif cough syrup contained 48.6 percent diethylene glycol — a substance known to cause severe renal damage.
In an official statement, WHO said it was “deeply saddened” by the deaths and extended its condolences to the affected families. The organization confirmed it had sought clarification from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) regarding the contaminated medicines and their possible export status.
Responding to WHO, the CDSCO said toxic contamination was detected in at least three cough syrups — Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife. The regulator informed that all three products had been recalled, and manufacturing units were ordered to halt production of all medical products. CDSCO also confirmed that none of the contaminated syrups had been exported.
“WHO expresses deep concern over these developments and emphasises the following: the potential risk of contaminated products being exported through unregulated channels, the regulatory gap in DEG/EG screening for domestically marketed medicines in India, and the urgent need to identify and remove any contaminated pharmaceutical material in circulation,” the organization stated.
WHO further said it stands ready to support Indian authorities in investigating the incident and strengthening regulatory mechanisms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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