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.