October 7, 2025

NEW DELHI: Shocking news from Madhya Pradesh has triggered a major safety alarm! Several children died after consuming cough syrup suspected to be of poor quality. In response, Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava took charge on Sunday, urging all states and union territories to force drug makers to follow the Revised Schedule M. This means stricter Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep medicines safe. At a high-level meeting with top health officials, including the Indian Council for Medical Research chief and Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Srivastava stressed the need for wise use of cough syrups — especially for kids. "Most coughs are self-limiting and do not require pharmacological treatment," she reminded everyone, hinting that unnecessary medicine can be dangerous. This concern first surfaced when the Metropolitan Surveillance Unit (MSU) in Nagpur, part of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, flagged a cluster of sickness and deaths in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh. Authorities collected 19 medicine samples from clinics and local stores where children had been treated. The Health Ministry shared that 9 out of 10 samples passed the quality tests. But hold your breath — the cough syrup named ‘Coldrif’ contained Diethylene Glycol beyond safe limits. This toxic chemical is notorious for causing severe kidney damage when used in high amounts. The ministry revealed, "Cancellation of manufacturing licence of the unit that supplied the specific batch of the drug has been recommended by CDSCO based on inspection findings. Criminal proceedings have also been initiated." Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi, DCGI, added a strong warning for all drug makers to obey the Revised Schedule M rules fully. He also mentioned that some firms received an extension till December to upgrade their manufacturing infrastructure. This crackdown sends a loud message: No compromise on medicine safety! Parents and doctors alike should be cautious about cough syrups, especially for children. The government is acting fast to stop more tragedies and tighten the noose on any carelessness in drug production.

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Tags: Madhya pradesh, Cough syrup deaths, Good manufacturing practices, Drug safety, Health ministry, Dcgi,