**Rajasthan Drug Controller Suspended Over Deaths Linked to ‘Substandard’ Cough Syrups**
*By Snehil Singh | October 4, 2025, 12:29 PM*
The Rajasthan government has suspended Drug Controller Rajaram Sharma following the deaths of two children and illness in several others after consuming allegedly substandard cough syrups. These syrups were distributed under the Chief Minister’s Free Medicine Scheme.
The Health Department cited lapses in quality control and accused Sharma of interfering in setting medicine standards, particularly concerning the salt content in the formulations.
### Investigation Underway and Ban on Dextromethorphan Syrups
In response, Rajasthan has banned the supply of cough syrups containing dextromethorphan from all manufacturers after multiple batches failed quality tests. Since 2012, the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) has tested over 10,000 samples of medicines from Kayson Pharma, finding 42 to be substandard.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has ordered a comprehensive investigation to identify how these medicines passed existing quality checks and what flaws exist in the quality assurance process.
### Formation of Expert Committees
An expert committee will be appointed to probe the quality assurance failures related to Kayson Pharma’s products. Following this, a second committee will recommend further actions to safeguard public health.
Additionally, the government has issued an advisory against using dextromethorphan-containing medicines in children under two years of age, aligning with prior guidance from the central government. New regulations will mandate warning labels on relevant medicines to highlight risks for children and pregnant women.
### Tamil Nadu Bans ‘Coldrif’ Cough Syrup Amid Child Deaths
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has banned the sale of the cough syrup “Coldrif” after it was linked to the deaths of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The state has ordered the immediate removal of the product from the market and frozen existing stocks.
“Coldrif,” manufactured by a Chennai-based company, was supplied to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry. Authorities suspect the syrup may have been contaminated with diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical known to cause kidney failure.
### National Advisory and Safety Concerns
The Union Health Ministry has also advised healthcare providers against prescribing cough and cold medications to children under two years old, following a spate of child deaths — nine in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district and two in Rajasthan.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has raised concerns over pharmaceutical safety, alleging that contamination may have resulted from mixing medicines with industrial brake oil solvents. This has intensified calls for stricter oversight of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Authorities are awaiting test results from government laboratories to further clarify the situation.
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*Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/rajasthan-suspends-drug-controller-bans-cough-syrup-after-deaths/story
