Three states, ministry get NHRC notices over cough syrup deaths

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments, directing them to probe allegations of children's deaths due to contaminated cough syrup and immediately ban the sale of spurious medicines.

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

"The authority is also directed to order all the chief drugs controllers in the states concerned to process immediate banning of the spurious drugs and submit reports," the NHRC said in a notice.

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh Government on Monday transferred the state's Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya and suspended three officials -- two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the food and drug administration -- amid the probe into the death of 14 children, linked to the consumption of a contaminated cough syrup.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav also visited Parasia to meet the kin of the deceased children; and assured them that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the deaths.

Taking precautionary measures, several other states have also ramped up actions to stop the consumption and supply of Coldrif cough syrup.

The Kerala Health Department ordered that no medicines should be given to children under 12 without a doctor's prescription.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration appealed to the people to stop the sale or use of Coldrif syrup from the specific batch identified by the Tamil Nadu authorities as "injurious." The Telangana Government directed all district medical and health officers to sensitise public on the ‘adulterated' cough syrup. The Karnataka Government directed enforcement officers to maintain strict vigil over certain cough syrups.