Punjab bans Coldrif, even as PIL in SC seeks probe on cough syrup deaths

The Punjab government on Tuesday banned the sale, distribution and use of Coldrif cough syrup in the state in the wake of the deaths of 14 children in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to the consumption of the contaminated medicine.

 

“The aforementioned drug formulation (Coldrif) is reported to be adulterated, as it contains DEG (46.28 per cent weight per volume), which makes it injurious to health,” the Punjab food and drug administration (FDA) said in its order.

 

With this, the state joins Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who have already announced bans on the cough syrup. Other states such as Karnataka and Telangana have sounded alerts, asking all health officers to sensitise the public on use of cough syrups.

 

According to people in the know, several states are checking if the syrup from the indicated batch has been dispensed in their jurisdictions, with some even checking samples of all brands of cough syrup for contamination.

 

Meanwhile, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking inquiry and systemic reform in drug safety mechanisms.

 

The PIL, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, seeks a court-monitored probe into the incidents and urges the constitution of a national judicial commission or expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

 

The petition also contends that separate state-level investigations have led to fragmented accountability, enabling repeated lapses that allow hazardous formulations to reach the market.

 

The trouble for Coldrif began after a batch of the medicine manufactured by a Kancheepuram-based unit was found to have contaminants such as Diethylene Glycol (DEG) by the Tamil Nadu FDA. 

 

Regulatory action has been taken against the unit where this particular sample of Coldrif was manufactured, with cancellation of the manufacturing licence and initiation of criminal proceedings being recommended by drug regulator CDSCO based on inspection findings.