Kerala health minister explains measures to safeguard children from cough syrup risks after MP deaths | VIDEO

Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of at least 14 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara after consuming Coldrif syrup, Kerala has set up a committee to submit a report on the management of pediatric cough syrups, Health Minister Veena George said on Tuesday.

Ban on Coldrif syrup in Kerala

Veena George stated that the State Drugs Controller has imposed a ban on Coldrif syrup, and the Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSCL) does not supply it to government hospitals. Speaking to ANI, she said, "It's unfortunate that 16 children died by consuming this cough syrup Coldrif. The Government of India has issued an advisory on the consumption of cough syrup. In Kerala, the Drugs Controller has issued a notification banning the particular cough syrup Coldrif in all the pharmacies across the state."

She added, "We don't have this in our essential drugs list. This is not being supplied by the KMSCL, which is our corporation that supplies medicine to government hospitals. But, we are ensuring that the sale is not happening in private hospitals and pharmacies."

Committee to manage paediatric cough

Veena George said the committee will submit its report to the Kerala government. "We have already done this in the case of antibiotics and have strict enforcement in the State. We have established a committee that will submit a report to the government. The committee is particularly focused on the management of pediatric cough, because irrelevant combinations should not be in the syrups. We have decided to issue a guideline regarding the management of pediatric cough, which is very essential," she added.

Concerns over prescriptions for children under two

The Minister raised concerns about doctors prescribing cough syrups to children under two years, which is not advisable. She said, "We do have a protocol on the consumption of cough syrup. It is not advisable to give cough syrups to children under 2 years old, but this case shows that doctors are prescribing cough syrups to children under 2 years old, which is unscientific and unacceptable. Kerala Health Department has asked the Drugs Controller to issue a notice to pharmacies not to give pediatric drugs to children without a prescription."

Action in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a high-level meeting in Bhopal and ordered the suspension of two drug inspectors, the Deputy Director of Food and Drug Administration, and the transfer of a drug controller. According to an official release, CM Yadav said, "The state government is vigilant and sensitive, and no negligence will be tolerated in matters concerning human life. Accordingly, Drug Inspector of Chhindwara Gaurav Sharma, Drug Inspector of Jabalpur Sharad Kumar Jain, and Deputy Director, Food & Drug Administration Shobhit Koshta have been suspended, while Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya has been transferred."

The CM also directed that existing Coldrif syrup stocks in shops be seized in addition to the ban.

Coldfrig bans across India

Apart from Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, several states including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Telangana have issued advisories and banned Coldrif syrup.