Uttar Pradesh Cracks Down on Deadly Cough Syrup: Coldrif-D Banned After 14 Tragic Deaths

In a decisive move to safeguard public health, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued an immediate ban on Coldrif-D cough syrup, following its tragic association with 14 deaths in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. The majority of these devastating fatalities were among children, casting a grim spotlight on pharmaceutical safety and the urgent need for stringent regulatory oversight.

The controversial cough syrup, manufactured by Himachal Pradesh-based Digital Vision, was identified with batch number CD-2323.

Its active ingredient, Dextromethorphan, has been implicated in the Madhya Pradesh deaths, triggering widespread alarm across the nation. Health authorities have sprung into action, with samples of the syrup being collected for rigorous testing to ascertain the exact cause of these heartbreaking incidents.

This incident is not an isolated one, echoing previous national and international concerns regarding pharmaceutical integrity.

The memory of similar tragedies linked to Maiden Pharmaceuticals and Marion Biotech, which saw their cough syrups allegedly cause deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan respectively, still looms large. These repeated crises underscore a persistent challenge in ensuring the quality and safety of over-the-counter medications.

Uttar Pradesh's Drugs Controller, AK Jain, confirmed the immediate ban, ordering all samples of Coldrif-D to be collected and subjected to thorough laboratory analysis.

The state's decisive action comes on the heels of a circular issued by the Central government, urging all states and Union Territories to exercise extreme caution regarding cough syrups containing Dextromethorphan. This central directive followed the horrific discovery in Madhya Pradesh where children, after consuming the syrup, developed a severe toxic reaction leading to seizures and subsequent death.

The health department in Uttar Pradesh has also advised extreme caution against the use of over-the-counter cough syrups, particularly for children under four years of age.

Medical experts strongly recommend consulting a doctor before administering any cough syrup to infants and young children. This precautionary stance aims to prevent any further potential harm while investigations continue and new, stricter guidelines are considered to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

As the nation grapples with this latest health scare, the focus remains firmly on accountability and prevention.

Authorities are committed to ensuring that such tragic events are not repeated, emphasizing robust testing, transparent reporting, and swift action against any pharmaceutical products that compromise public safety.