The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department on Monday announced the cancellation of the manufacturing licence of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Coldrif cough syrup, which has been linked to the deaths of at least 22 children in Madhya Pradesh.
The state health department said the company has been officially shut down following an investigation that found toxic contaminants, specifically Diethylene Glycol (DEG), in its cough syrup, Coldrif.
Additionally, the department has ordered comprehensive inspections of all pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu. Large-scale inspections are currently underway across the state.
A Parasia court has sent Sresan Pharma owner Ranganathan to 10-day police custody after his arrest on October 9 in Chennai by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Madhya Pradesh.
Two senior drug inspectors have also been suspended for dereliction of duty. The Tamil Nadu government has directed further inspections of other pharmaceutical companies operating in the state.
Earlier, BJP leader K. Annamalai criticised the Tamil Nadu government for its handling of the case. He said that the state had acted only after the SIT intervened and accused the government of creating an “illusion” to evade responsibility.
“A drug manufactured by a private pharmaceutical company in Kanchipuram has reportedly caused the deaths of 23 people in Madhya Pradesh and three children in Rajasthan. However, the Tamil Nadu government has suspended only two drug inspectors and is trying to create an illusion that it has no connection or responsibility in this matter. Yesterday, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) took an important decision, directing that every medicine produced in India must undergo mandatory testing before approval,” Annamalai said.
He also pointed to the company’s history of quality violations and criticised the lack of regular inspections by state drug officials.
Meanwhile, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued a directive to all states and Union Territories, calling for strict compliance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, for the testing of raw materials and finished pharmaceutical formulations.
(ANI)