India News: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), apex drug regulatory body of India, has advised manufacturers of cough syrups to buy and use .
On October 5, WHO declared that cough syrups manufactured in India might be linked to the deaths of over 60 children in The Gambia an alarming assertion given India's status as the "pharmacy to the world”
According to WHO, laboratory analysis of the syrups confirmed “unacceptable" amounts of Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol which can be toxic and lead to acute kidney injury in four cough syrup brands
More than 40 companies manufacturing cough syrups in the country have failed quality tests, a CDSCO report said, citing the lab tests conducted in different states in the aftermath of reports linking.
Replace the existing regulatory system with a modern legal structure that provides oversight to an increasingly complex pharma industry, while protecting public health and patient rights. Addressing the quality issue is essential not just from a public health perspective but also to ensure India retains its primacy in the lucrative global drug manufacturing sector.