Rajasthan Suspends Drug Controller, Cracks Down On Syrup Supplier After Child Deaths

The Rajasthan government has launched a sweeping crackdown in the wake of tragic child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrup, suspending its Drug Controller, Rajaram Sharma, and halting the distribution of all medicines from a key supplier. The move comes as multiple states and the central government grapple with a nationwide health scare over substandard drugs distributed through public health schemes.In a decisive action, Rajasthan suspended Sharma for alleged quality control failures and interference in setting medicine standards.

The state has also banned all 19 medicines supplied by Jaipur-based Kayson Pharma and halted the use of all cough syrups containing dextromethorphan from any manufacturer. This follows the deaths of at least two children and the illness of several others in the state. Kayson Pharma has a troubling history, with 42 of its medicine samples failing quality tests since 2012. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has ordered a high-level investigation, with an expert committee set to probe the systemic failures in quality assurance.The crisis is not limited to Rajasthan.

The Tamil Nadu government has also banned the sale of another cough syrup, ‘Coldrif’, after it was linked to the deaths of 11 children across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The syrup, made by a Chennai-based firm, is suspected to be contaminated with Diethylene Glycol, a toxic industrial solvent known to cause kidney failure. Production has been stopped, existing stocks have been frozen, and samples have been sent for urgent testing.

Responding to the growing crisis, which includes nine reported deaths in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, the Union Health Ministry has issued a national advisory, cautioning all states against prescribing cough and cold medications to children under two. The situation has also taken a political turn, with senior Congress leader Kamal Nath publicly alleging that the contamination could be due to mixing with industrial brake oil solvents, placing the entire pharmaceutical supply chain under intense scrutiny as authorities await definitive lab results.