Toxic Cough Syrup in India: Indian authorities on Wednesday advised the public to avoid two more brands of cough syrup after 17 children under the age of five died from consuming medicine containing a toxic chemical nearly 500 times above the permissible limit.
The deaths, which occurred over the past month, have been linked to the cough syrup Coldrif, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer. The syrup was banned on October 2 after tests confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG) — a highly poisonous substance that can cause kidney failure, neurological damage, and even death, particularly among children.
Following the ban, state health departments in Gujarat and other regions issued a public alert identifying Respifresh and RELIFE syrups as also containing diethylene glycol. The alert warned that the chemical “can cause serious poisoning, including kidney failure and death, especially in children.”
WHO Seeks Clarification on Exports
The World Health Organization (WHO) told Reuters that it has sought clarification from Indian authorities to determine whether any of the contaminated cough syrups were exported to other countries.
WHO said it would consider issuing a Global Medical Products Alert for Coldrif Syrup once official confirmation is received from New Delhi. The UN agency continues to advise against the use of cough and cold medicines for children.
Factory Under Investigation, License Cancellation Recommended
The factory and office of Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer in Tamil Nadu were found shut when officials arrived for inspection. Police have launched a manslaughter investigation against the company, while central authorities have recommended cancelling its manufacturing license.
Drug inspectors were seen posting notices on the facility’s walls demanding production details and ingredient sources. Behind the factory, burnt syrup bottles and discarded medicine packaging lay scattered, with a strong chemical smell in the air.
Nationwide Drug Inspections
India’s Health Ministry said inspections are underway across 19 pharmaceutical units in six states.
Two of the companies inspected were Shape Pharma, which manufactures RELIFE Syrup, and Rednex Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Respifresh. Gujarat state officials reported that samples from these companies were found “not of standard quality,” leading to an immediate suspension of production and distribution.
Both companies have yet to respond to official queries.
Global Reputation at Stake
This tragedy follows several previous incidents where Indian-made cough syrups were linked to child deaths abroad — including Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon, where over 140 children died since 2022.
India’s pharmaceutical sector, valued at $50 billion, is the third-largest in the world after the U.S. and China. More than half of its value comes from exports, with 40% of generic medicines used in the U.S. and over 90% of all medicines in many African nations supplied by India.
While India is globally recognized as the “pharmacy of the world,” these recurring tragedies have raised serious concerns over quality control, regulatory oversight, and manufacturing standards in the country’s drug industry.
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