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The Centre had in late 2023 ordered pharmaceutical companies to ensure their plants meet WHO-recommended standards (File image) The central government has refused drugmakers' requests to extend a year-end deadline for them to upgrade their manufacturing facilities to international standards, four sources said, amid public anger over the recent deaths of at least 24 children who consumed locally-produced cough syrup. The Centre had in late 2023 ordered pharmaceutical companies to ensure their pl
India's pharmaceutical industry, valued at $50 billion, is booming as a global leader in generic drugs. With significant exports to 200+ countries, India meets a substantial portion of global demand for affordable medicine. Challenges include regulatory hurdles and quality assurance, as the nation aims to expand its generic drug market. The Indian pharmaceutical industry, currently valued at $50 billion, is playing an increasingly crucial role on the global stage. Renowned as the 'pharmacy of the world,' India's pharma sector is a major exporter, supplying essential generic drugs to over 200 ...Read More >
CHENNAI: A week after reporting poor manufacturing and laboratory practices in Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactured the lethal cough syrup that killed more than 20 children in Madhya Pradesh, the state health department suspended two former senior drug inspectors on charges of negligence for failing to inspect the unit, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said here on Thursday.Senior drug inspectors, Deepa Joseph and K Karthikeyan, who served in the Kancheepuram zone, were placed under suspension. "They did not inspect the manufacturing unit and initiate necessary steps to stop pro ...Read More >
New Delhi -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday issued a health advisory warning against the use and distribution of three cough syrups believed to be responsible for the deaths of several children in India over the last month. The drugs were identified as specific batches of Coldrif, Respifresh TR and ReLife, the WHO said in a statement, manufactured by three Indian companies: Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma. The oral liquid drugs were found to conta ...Read More >
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed two writ petitions filed by Sintu alias Akhilesh Prakash and Akash Maurya against whom an FIR was lodged with the Kotwali police station of Jaunpur in the codeine-based cough syrup case of UP.The order was passed by Justice Ajay Bhanot and Justice Garima Prasad. The petitioners had moved the court challenging the FIR lodged against them and also for stay on arrest in the matter. The court dismissed the petitions by saying that the act of pet ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 1 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla has sparked controversy by denying any link between contaminated cough syrup and the deaths of six children in Chhindwara district. Despite ongoing investigations, Shukla stated that preliminary findings show no contamination in the syrup, claiming, "These deaths did not occur due to the cough syrup for sure," ahead of the examination report, with samples sent to laboratories in Nagpur and Pune for analysis. Reacting to the issue, Health Minister Shukla told reporters, " ...Read More >
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday launched searches at seven locations in Chennai in connection with the Coldrif cough syrup case, which led to the deaths of several children. The raids are being conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and are linked to Sreesan Pharma, the manufacturer of the syrup that is now banned across several states in the country. Premises being searched by the central probe agency reportedly include residences of top offic ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Amid continued violations and the widespread misuse and easy availability of weight loss drugs in the market, the Centre on Wednesday warned that those who break the rules "will face licence cancellation, fines and legal action." In a detailed note on GLP 1 drugs, their use, risks and regulation, the Centre said multiple variants of weight loss drugs have recently been introduced in the Indian market, raising concerns over their on demand availability through retail pharmacies, online platforms, wholesalers and wellness clinics. To prevent unauthorised sale, unsupervised use and o ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission ( IPC), which acts as the National Coordination Centre for the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) and provides evidence-based research to CDSCO, will be monitoring the safety of weight loss drugs. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission will be compiling a report of adverse events which are associated with the GLP-1 drugs. Also Read | Indian Railways Carries 1,670 MT Freight, Runs 25,000 Trains Daily in Financial Year 2026. According to the Official sources, the IPC has started the regular monitoring of adverse events ...Read More >
A government hospital in Gwalior has sealed its entire stock of Azithromycin antibiotic after a complaint alleged worms were found in a bottle given to a child. This incident follows recent child deaths in Madhya Pradesh linked to a toxic cough syrup. Samples of the antibiotic have been sent for testing. Amid child deaths linked to a toxic cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh, a government hospital in Gwalior is now facing a complaint over worms allegedly found in a bottle of antibiotic medicine given ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 26 (ANI): The Pharmaceutical companies and chemists in Shimla have begun implementing the revised GST night tariff on medicines, bringing much-needed relief to patients and the poor. Managers and pharmacy owners in the capital confirmed that the new reforms, effective as of September 22, have already reduced the prices of many essential and life-saving medications. Mahesh Bisht, Manager at a pharmaceutical company, explained the changes, "From September 22, the new GST reforms and tariffs have come into effect. Items that were earlier under the 12% ...Read More >
The World Health Organization is seeking details from India regarding a cough syrup linked to child deaths. Several Indian states have banned the 'Coldrif' syrup. Lab reports confirmed it contained a toxic industrial solvent. A criminal case has been registered against the manufacturer, Sresan Pharma. The doctor who prescribed the syrup has been arrested. The World Health Organization on Wednesday sought clarification from Indian authorities on whether a cough syrup linked to deaths of children ...Read More >
Given that deaths have now been reported across multiple states, this cannot remain a state-specific inquiry. It needs a coordinated, multi-state probe under the supervision of central agencies such as the CBI and the Union Health Ministry Over the past month, at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have lost their lives after consuming contaminated cough syrup. In MP's Chhindwara district alone, where nine deaths occurred, families reported a distressing similarity. The children fi ...Read More >
* Six children have died of kidney failure in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district in 15 days * Investigators suspect contaminated cough syrup laced with toxic diethylene glycol as the cause of the deaths * Most of the victims had been administered Coldrif and Nextro-DS syrups, which have now been banned Did our AI summary help? Let us know. Switch To Beeps Mode In a heart-wrenching tragedy that has shaken Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, six children have died of kidney failure in the ...Read More >
The Union health ministry addressed cough syrup quality. A meeting reviewed drug norm compliance. This followed child deaths linked to syrups in Chhindwara and Rajasthan. States received advice on cough syrup use for children. One cough syrup, Coldrif, contained DEG beyond limits. Action occurred against the manufacturer. Inspections began across 19 units. Officials urged adherence to manufacturing practices. Amid concerns over the quality of cough syrups, the Union health ministry on Sunday und ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Some Indian pharmaceutical firms failed to follow rules that every batch of medicinal ingredients is tested, the country's drug regulator said on Wednesday, opens new tab, after deaths in the past month of 17 children linked to toxic cough syrups. An advisory by the drugs controller general of India, Rajeev Raghuvanshi, said the regulator carried out checks at some factories and found serious lapses. In the advisory dated October 7 and posted on a government website ...Read More >
CHHINDWARA/NEW DELHI, India - India has refused drugmakers' requests to extend a year-end deadline for them to upgrade their manufacturing facilities to international standards, four sources said, amid public anger over the recent deaths of at least 24 children who consumed locally-produced cough syrup. New Delhi had in late 2023 ordered pharmaceutical companies to ensure their plants meet World Health Organization-recommended standards, which would require them to invest in protocols to prevent cross-contamination and enable batch-testing of samples, among other measures. The mandate was est ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) The pharmaceutical industry on Thursday refuted Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remarks linking COVID-19 vaccines with a spate of heart attack deaths in the state's Hassan district, saying such claims without scientific evidence are factually incorrect and misleading. Pharmaceutical industry leaders asserted that COVID-19 vaccines have been well-documented and rigorously tested according to regulatory standards, and linking them to the deaths in Hassan district due to cardiac ailments "without any scientific evidence is incorrect and misleading". In a post on p ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Following the tragic deaths of six children in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district from acute kidney failure, the Union health ministry has launched a comprehensive, multi-agency investigation. A team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been deployed to the region, officials familiar with the matter said. Health officials strongly suspect a contaminated cough syrup is responsible for the fatalities. Preliminary reports suggest the over-the-counter medicine may have been tainted with diethylene glycol (DEG), a highly toxic chemical known to cause severe kidney d ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 1 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla has sparked controversy by denying any link between contaminated cough syrup and the deaths of six children in Chhindwara district. Despite ongoing investigations, Shukla stated that preliminary findings show no contamination in the syrup, claiming, "These deaths did not occur due to the cough syrup for sure," ahead of the examination report, with samples sent to laboratories in Nagpur and Pune for analysis. Also Read | Shashi Tharoor Reappointed As Chairperson of Parlia ...Read More >
After the death of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh due to the consumption of contaminated cough syrup, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Wednesday issued a strict advisory for drug controllers of all states and Union Territories and instructed them to ensure every batch of raw material and finished formulation is properly tested before use or sale. The advisory, dated October 7, 2025, was sent by Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) ...Read More >
Two more children in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, have died from kidney failure after consuming a contaminated cough syrup, bringing the total to 16. The affected children had reportedly taken the Coldrif syrup, with samples found to contain toxic substances. Investigations are ongoing, leading to suspensions and arrests. Chhindwara, Two more children from Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara who were undergoing treatment for kidney failure after drinking a contaminated cough syrup have died, taking the n ...Read More >
Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh): The adult male Caracal was spotted in the camera surveillance system of Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, within the Bhanpura-Garot assembly constituency area, along the Chambal River, on Thursday night. This records as the first confirmed sighting of the species in a protected area of the state in several years. Caracals, known locally by the same name, are extremely shy, nocturnal carnivores, renowned for their exceptional agility and speed. Weighing between 7-18 kilograms, these wild cats prefer dry, bushy, rocky terrain and open grasslands. The species is curr ...Read More >
Surat (Gujarat) [India], August 21: KP Group, a leading name in India's renewable energy sector, is stepping up its expansion with a clear goal of reaching 10 GW capacity by 2030. With projects already underway in Gujarat, the Group is working on projects in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, supported by a strong order book and government partnerships. KP Group has signed memoranda of understanding with Gujarat, Odisha, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for over 2.6 GW of renewable projects, while exploring new opportunities in other states. The Group has already e ...Read More >
After contaminated cough syrups made headlines linked to child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, India's drug regulator has launched a digital monitoring system so that officials can oversee production, movement and quality of high-risk ingredients used in making these formulations. The move comes after several reports of diethylene glycol (DEG) contamination in cough syrups, which raised serious safety concerns and prompted nationwide scrutiny of pharmaceutical manufacturing practices. I ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) India and Oman will sign a free trade agreement on Thursday in Muscat, opening greater opportunities for sectors such as textiles, food processing, automobiles, auto components, and gems and jewellery. It will be signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a four-day, three-nation visit. He arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday from Jordan and will depart from Addis Ababa for Oman. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has reached Muscat for the FTA signing. Talks for the free trade agreement, officially termed as CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Par ...Read More >
Varanasi (UP), Apr 1 (PTI) A local court here has declared the alleged kingpin of the cough syrup trafficking racket, Shubham Jaiswal, a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear within the stipulated time despite a court notice, police said on Wednesday. Rohania Station House Officer Raju Singh said that the Fast Track Court had issued a notice on February 27, directing Jaiswal to appear within 30 days. "As he did not comply within the deadline, a case was registered late Tuesday night on the complaint of investigating officer Dinesh Tripathi, and he has now been declared an absconder," ...Read More >
BHOPAL: Authorities in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district have issued an advisory restricting the prescription, sale, and use of at least two cough syrups after six children, aged one to seven, reportedly died between September 4 and 26 from kidney-related complications and anuria. Analysis of the medicines administered to the six minors found two cough syrups in common. With samples of the syrups sent for detailed testing, the district administration has advised doctors to refrain from prescribing them and has restricted their sale and use. "Till the time test reports of the syrup samples ...Read More >
Chhindwara (MP), Oct 6 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh police have formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the death of 14 children in Chhindwara due to suspected renal failure, linked to the consumption of a "toxic" cough syrup, officials said. Dr Praveen Soni from Chhindwara has been arrested for alleged negligence in connection with the child deaths, while a case has been registered against the Coldrif cough syrup manufacturing company, the officials said on Sunday. The body of the last victim was exhumed on Sunday for a post-mortem. Chhindwara Additional Collector Dhirendra Singh sa ...Read More >
Hyderabad, April 4 (RAHNUMA): The Government of India reaffirmed strong support for the pharmaceutical sector at a high-level Chintan Shivir organized by the Department of Commerce and Pharmexcil. The inaugural session was chaired by Rajesh Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Commerce. Senior officials including the Chairman of Pharmexcil and Joint Secretary from the Department of Pharmaceuticals addressed the gathering. The Commerce Secretary, in his address, highlighted the strong growth trajectory of India's pharmaceutical industry, noting that India, with nearly 18-19% of the world's popul ...Read More >
Lucknow: Senior Samajwadi Party leader and former minister Gayatri Prajapati was attacked by a fellow inmate inside Lucknow Jail on Tuesday. The scuffle took place within the jail premises, after which prison authorities launched an internal inquiry. According to a statement issued by Dr Ramdhani, DIG Prisons, Lucknow Range, the incident occurred after Prajapati allegedly used abusive language towards another inmate, Vishwas Rajput. In response, Vishwas attacked Prajapati using a sharp object inside the cell. DIG Prisons clarified that the incident was not premeditated and dismissed any spec ...Read More >