Kerala suspends sale, distribution of Coldrif syrup, says Health Minister

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday said the state Drugs Control department has suspended the sale of Coldrif cough syrup in the state.

The decision follows reports from other states that flagged issues with one of the batches of the Coldrif syrup, she said.

A preliminary inquiry by the State Drugs Control Department revealed that the flagged batch of the drug was not sold in Kerala, the minister clarified in a statement.


"However, the Drugs Controller, out of concern for safety, has instructed drug inspectors to completely stop the distribution and sale of Coldrif," she said.

This drug is being sold through eight distributors in Kerala, the minister said adding that all these centers have been instructed to halt distribution and sale.

Besides, the minister said that instructions have been issued to suspend the sale of Coldriff syrup through medical stores as well.

Noting that the Drugs Control department has conducted intensive inspections in the state, George said samples of Coldrif syrup have been collected for examination.

Along with this, samples of other cough syrups are also being examined.

As per the Central Director General of Health Services (DGHS) guidelines, doctors should not prescribe cough syrup to children under two years of age.

Even if a prescription is received, all medical stores have been instructed not to dispense cough syrup in such cases, she said.

The minister's statement came in the wake of suspicions linking it to the death of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath had blamed the mixing of 'brake oil solvent' in cough syrups for the deaths of children with a suspected kidney ailment in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district since September 7.

The toll in the case reached 9 in Madhya Pradesh while media reports said that two infants died in Rajasthan.