Mumbai: In the wake of the deaths of nearly 20 children in Madhya Pradesh after consuming contaminated cough syrup, the Maharashtra government has launched a special vigilance and inspection drive to test liquid oral formulations stocked by hospitals and distributors across the state to ensure strict quality control.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a circular Wednesday, directing all joint commissioners and drug inspectors to immediately submit details of all manufacturers in their jurisdictions. They have also been asked to collect oral formulation samples from government and semi-government hospitals, as well as private wholesalers and retailers.
The circular, seen by ThePrint, was issued a day after the FDA commissioner chaired a video conference with department officials.
The officials have been asked to report on the details of liquid oral formulation and recall all suspected bottles from hospitals and pharmacies and distributors. Samples will have to be collected from all hospitals, semi-government hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, private hospitals, wholesalers and retail distributors.
The samples collected from Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Konkan divisions will have to be sent to a lab in Mumbai, whereas those collected from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur and Amravati divisions will have to be sent for testing at a lab in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
All this needs to be done by October 9, with reports submitted via a Google form, according to the circular.
The collected samples will have to be tested between October 10-15 to verify the quality of solvents such as glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol. Besides, the inspectors will have to confirm vendor validation, check testing protocols for Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol and ensure proper record-keeping.
If anybody is found violating norms and regulations, they will face action, said the circular.
So far, 20 children have died in Madhya Pradesh while undergoing treatment for acute kidney issues after drinking a contaminated cough syrup. These children were from Chhindwara who had allegedly consumed cough syrup Coldrif, samples of which were found to have toxic content.
In the investigation, it was found that the syrup linked to the deaths was manufactured by a Tamil Nadu-based company, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said, adding action has been taken against the company owner for negligence, the doctor who prescribed the medicine and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials found negligent.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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