**Rajasthan Drug Controller Suspended Over Deaths Linked to Substandard Cough Syrups**
*By Snehil Singh | October 4, 2025, 12:29 PM*
The Rajasthan government has taken swift action by suspending Drug Controller Rajaram Sharma following the tragic deaths of two children and the illness of several others after allegedly consuming substandard cough syrups. These medicines were distributed under the Chief Minister’s Free Medicine Scheme.
The state Health Department pointed to significant lapses in quality control and accused Sharma of interfering with the formulation standards, specifically concerning the salt content in medicines.
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### Investigation and Measures Taken
In response to the incident, Rajasthan has banned the supply of cough syrups containing dextromethorphan from all manufacturers. This decision came after multiple batches failed rigorous quality tests.
Since 2012, the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) has tested over 10,000 samples of medicines from Kayson Pharma, a key manufacturer, and found 42 samples to be substandard. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has ordered a thorough investigation into how these faulty medicines passed existing quality checks and where the assurance process broke down.
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### Expert Committees Formed
To address the crisis, the government has established expert committees tasked with probing the quality assurance failures related to Kayson Pharma’s products. A secondary panel will recommend further actions in the public interest based on the findings.
Additionally, the government has issued an advisory against the use of dextromethorphan-containing medicines in children under two years of age, aligning with previous guidance from the Central government. Moving forward, medicines containing this ingredient will be required to display warning labels highlighting risks for children and pregnant women.
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### Related Developments in Other States
In a related move, Tamil Nadu has banned the sale of “Coldrif” cough syrup following reports linking it to the deaths of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The state authorities ordered the immediate removal of the product from the market and froze existing stocks.
“Coldrif,” manufactured by a Chennai-based company, was supplied to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry. Authorities suspect the syrup was contaminated with Diethylene Glycol, a highly toxic chemical known to cause kidney failure.
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### National Advisory and Safety Concerns
The Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory recommending against prescribing cough and cold medicines to children under two years of age — a direct response to the fatalities reported in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district and Rajasthan.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has raised alarms over potential contamination, suggesting that hazardous solvents like industrial brake oil may have been mixed into the cough syrups. This accusation has heightened concerns about the safety protocols within the pharmaceutical supply chain.
At present, test results from government laboratories are awaited to provide further clarity on the source and nature of contamination.
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**Stay tuned for updates as the investigation progresses.**
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/rajasthan-suspends-drug-controller-bans-cough-syrup-after-deaths/story
