India faces ongoing challenges in preventing the sale of toxic cough syrup, despite some advancements, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) official speaking with Reuters. This statement follows the tragic deaths of at least 24 children who consumed a domestic cough medicine known as Coldrif, produced by Sresan Pharma, which was found to contain diethylene glycol at levels nearly 500 times above the permissible limit.
This incident occurred just two years after global commitments were made to enhance regulations in response to the deaths of over 300 children worldwide due to similar toxic substances in syrup-based medications from India and Indonesia. However, the WHO has emphasized that enforcement issues continue to be a significant barrier.
WHO official Rutendo Kuwana indicated that while India has implemented new rules requiring the testing of medicines for contaminants like diethylene and ethylene glycol before export, there remains a notable regulatory gap for products sold domestically. “It’s a work in progress,” Kuwana acknowledged, highlighting the challenges posed by the vast market consisting of tens of thousands of manufacturers across various states.
In recent developments, India has proposed to remove the export testing requirement once companies improve their facilities to adhere to international standards by the end of the year. However, requests for comments from India’s health ministry and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) went unanswered, and representatives from Sresan Pharma did not respond to inquiries.
A WHO spokesperson expressed support for initiatives aimed at improving the quality of medicines, while stressing that testing should occur throughout the production process rather than solely at the end.
This situation underscores the urgent need for adequate regulations and oversight within India’s vast pharmaceutical market to prevent further tragedies caused by substandard and potentially harmful medications. The WHO’s continued engagement reflects a hopeful outlook towards ensuring safer medicine practices that could ultimately benefit public health and safety.
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