The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) told the World Health Organization (WHO) that none of the three cough syrups—Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife—were exported from India, despite the fact that the number of fatalities from poisonous cough syrup had risen to 22. In light of multiple deaths among young children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan from acute renal failure and acute encephalitis syndrome, the UN health agency on Wednesday asked Indian authorities for information regarding the shipment of Coldrif.
The WHO sought to determine if the cough syrups that were purportedly responsible for the deaths of children were exported to other nations. According to the WHO, the three items were identified by the CDSCO as follows: Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals (Gujarat) showed 1.342 percent DEG, ReLife from Shape Pharma (Gujarat) showed 0.616 percent, and Coldrif from Sresan Pharma (Tamil Nadu) showed 48.6 percent DEG. The UN health agency pledged “support to national authorities in investigating and responding to these tragic events” and offered “condolences” to the families impacted.
In response to DEG contamination concerns, the WHO stated it has not received official information on the contamination source or identified affected pharmaceutical materials. It warned of potential risks tied to the export of contaminated products through unregulated channels and highlighted regulatory shortcomings in DEG/EG screening for medicines in India. The Kanchipuram drug manufacturing unit has been sealed, and several states have banned Coldrif cough syrups, while others have issued alerts. The DGHS has advised rational use of cough syrups in children.
