Following the tragic deaths of 10 children in Madhya Pradesh‘s Chhindwara district,authorities on Saturday night arrested Dr. Praveen Soni. He is the physician who had prescribed the contaminated Coldrif cough syrup linked to the fatalities.
Earlier in the day, police registered an FIR against Dr. Soni and the operators of Sresun Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Coldrif syrup. The case was filed under Section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following a complaint by Ankit Sahlam, Block Medical Officer of Parasia Community Health Centre.
[img=1px,1px]https://data.indianexpress.com/election2019/track_1x1.jpg[/img]Investigations revealed that Dr. Soni had prescribed Coldrif syrupto most of the affected children. A laboratory report released on Friday confirmed that the syrup contained 48.6% Diethylene Glycol(DEG), a toxic chemical known to cause kidney failure and death if ingested.
ALSO READ‘48% toxic substance found’: MP, Tamil Nadu ban Coldrif cough syrup after 12 children’s death; Rajasthan suspends drug controller
Central health authorities to review safety measures
The Union Health Secretary will hold a video conference with Principal Secretaries (Health), Health Secretaries and Drug Controllers from all states and Union Territories, according to media reports.
The discussion will focus on the rational use of cough syrups and ensuring the safety and quality of medicines.
Madhya Pradesh bans Coldrif Syrup
The Madhya Pradesh government banned the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup on Saturday after tests confirmed poisonous contamination in the batch linked to the deaths. The state drug controller’s directive cited a Tamil Nadu Drug Control Directorate report dated October 2, which labeled the syrup as “non-standard and defective (NSQ).”
Officials said the contamination made the medicine unsafe for human consumption. The government ordered an immediate halt to the sale, distribution, and disposal of Coldrif syrup and directed that all stocks be sealed until further notice. The ban was also extended to other products manufactured by Sresun Pharmaceuticals.
Scrutiny across states
Sresun Pharmaceuticals, based in Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, is already under investigation by Tamil Nadu authorities. The state had imposed a similar ban on October 1 after preliminary reports linked Coldrif to the deaths of at least 12 children across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
ALSO READ11 children die of kidney failure after cough syrup consumption in MP, Rajasthan; samples sent for testing
Kerala bans sale of Coldrif Syrup
Kerala became the latest state to suspend the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup. Health Minister Veena George announced that although the flagged batch was not found in Kerala, the state acted “out of an abundance of caution.”
“The Drugs Controller has instructed inspectors to completely stop the distribution and sale of Coldrif syrup in the state,” the minister said. All eight distributors currently selling the product were directed to suspend operations immediately, and medical stores were instructed to remove existing stocks from shelves. |
