Cough syrup tragedy exposes pharma’s accountability gap

THE deaths of children in Rajasthan, allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrups, again underscore how lapses in drug quality can turn routine treatment into a fatal risk. The kids were allegedly given a generic cough syrup at government hospitals under the Chief Minister’s free medicine scheme. While a probe is underway, the tragedy highlights the fragility of India’s pharmaceutical oversight — particularly in states like Himachal Pradesh, a major pharma hub. Significantly, of the 655 pharmaceutical units in HP, barely 122 have registered to upgrade under revised Schedule M norms of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). That means most units continue without certifying compliance to the quality standards. While the deadline for upgrade has been extended multiple times, it exposes regulatory weakness and a reluctance among smaller firms to invest in safer processes. For families who lost their children, this debate is cold comfort.

And this is not the first such tragedy. In 2020, a contaminated cough syrup, later found to contain diethylene glycol, had claimed the lives of 12 children in Jammu’s Udhampur district. The families are still waiting for justice. Accountability for such deaths continues to be delayed, diluted or denied. Internationally, too, India has faced embarrassment. Syrups manufactured here were linked to child deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan, leading to bans and damaging India’s reputation as the ‘pharmacy of the world’. How many more children must die before quality control moves from paper to practice?

The Centre has rightly pushed for stricter GMP adherence and periodic inspections, but enforcement remains patchy. State regulators lack manpower and penalties rarely bite. India’s pharma success story cannot rest on cheap generics alone; it must be backed by credibility. Stronger audits, criminal liability for negligence and swift justice are essential. Without them, every such tragedy chips away at public trust — the most vital ingredient in any medicine.