By Nelson Manneh
In a central Indian state, nine children have died under troubling circumstances, prompting authorities to suspect that a commonly used cough syrup may be to blame. The Indian Health Ministry confirmed that samples of Coldrif Cough Syrup, produced by Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, contained diethylene glycol (DEG) levels above legally permissible limits.
Initial testing by local regulators in Madhya Pradesh had examined 13 samples, finding three free of contamination. However, when state drug authorities conducted tests on samples directly sourced from the Sresan manufacturing site in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, contamination was confirmed.
In response to the findings, the Indian government launched inspections of 19 drug manufacturers across six states to identify flaws in quality control and prevent similar tragedies from occurring.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to India’s pharmaceutical exports, which have previously come under international scrutiny. In 2022, a World Health Organization investigation linked certain Indian-manufactured cough syrups to the deaths of approximately 70 children in The Gambia. Both cases highlight the dangers posed by contaminated pediatric medicines and underscore the importance of rigorous quality control measures.
While the Indian case involves domestic fatalities linked to a single manufacturer, the Gambian tragedy demonstrated the far-reaching consequences of unsafe pharmaceutical imports, where contaminated products caused mass casualties in a foreign country. Health experts say the two incidents underscore a critical need for stronger regulatory oversight, both within India and among importing nations, to ensure that children are protected from toxic medicines.
