The Tamil Nadu government has responded to concerns raised in the Assembly regarding the cough medicine controversy linked to child fatalities.
Minister M. Subramanian clarified that the Sresan Pharmaceuticals company, which produced the controversial ‘Coldrif’ cough syrup, had been inspected five times by the state’s Drug Control Department between 2019 and 2022.
Following these inspections, fines and production halts were imposed due to regulatory violations.
The ‘Coldrif’ syrup, manufactured in Tamil Nadu and linked to the death of 25 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, led to a nationwide uproar. Investigations revealed that the syrup contained toxic levels of diethylene glycol, a hazardous chemical.
The state government has permanently revoked Sresan Pharma’s manufacturing license and shut down the firm. The company’s owner has been arrested, and strict action has been taken against officials responsible for lapses in inspections.
The government has ordered widespread inspections of other pharmaceutical companies across Tamil Nadu, focusing especially on the 50 syrup-producing firms. Recently, comprehensive checks were carried out on these manufacturers with more inspections planned.
To prevent future incidents, special monitoring teams will be established for ongoing oversight of drug manufacturing units in the state.
The Tamil Nadu government assures the public that detailed measures are being implemented to strengthen drug safety controls and prevent such tragic incidents from repeating, underlining their commitment to public health and safety.