Cough syrup deaths: NHRC sends notices to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, UP govts and Drugs Controller General

The National Human Rights Commission of India has issued notices to government of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Drug Controller General over deaths caused due to cough syrups.

Several children have died after consuming the cold and cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, prompting the health ministry to initiate a probe.

States like Kerala and Telangana have issued public alerts and banned the syrup.


The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has also started its probe and will take action against Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup.

It has also directed the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Union health ministry to order an investigation into the supply of spurious drugs and instruct all regional labs in states to collect the samples of spurious drugs and submit test reports.

"The authority is also directed to order all the Chief Drugs Controllers in the concerned states to process immediately banning of the spurious drugs and submit reports," the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a notice.

The commission said it has received a complaint seeking urgent intervention in cases of the deaths of 12 children in Madhya Pradesh (Chhindwara and Vidisha districts) and some districts of Rajasthan allegedly after consuming cough syrup.