Coldrif cough syrup row: Kerala bars medicines for children without prescription

In the wake of child deaths linked to Coldrif cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh, the Kerala Health Department on Monday (October 6) ordered that no medicines should be given to children under 12 without a doctor’s prescription.

After a high-level meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Health Minister Veena George said Kerala has also set up a three-member expert panel to study the use of cough medicines in children and asked it to submit an urgent report.

New guidelines to be formed

The panel includes the state drugs controller, the child health nodal officer and the state president of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics. Its findings will help formulate new guidelines on cough syrup use in children, the minister said in a statement.

Also read: Karnataka, Telangana on alert amid child deaths due to toxic cough syrup

Issuing a strong directive on providing medicines to children under 12 without a prescription, George said that medicines should not be dispensed even using an old prescription.

"Directions have been issued to the Drugs Controller in this regard, and awareness efforts will also be strengthened. Since medicines for children are prescribed according to their body weight, a medicine given to one child must not be given to another. Doing so could cause more harm than benefit," she said.

No issues with cough syrups in Kerala

The statement said doctors informed the meeting that no problems related to cough syrup for children have been reported in Kerala.

Also read: SIT to probe 14 cough syrup deaths in MP; doctors threaten stir over arrest

It added that strong awareness campaigns will be carried out to raise public understanding and address concerns.

"Directions have been issued to specifically check if there are any related cases. Training will also be provided to paediatricians and other doctors with the cooperation of the IAP," the statement said.

Inspections are being conducted in the state under the leadership of the Drugs Control Department.

14 child deaths in MP

Following reports that issues were found outside Kerala in the SR-13 batch of Coldrif syrup, its sale has been suspended in the state by the Drugs Control Department. That batch of medicines had been distributed in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry. In Rajasthan, problems have also been identified with a cough syrup from another company.

Also read: Tamil Nadu bans 'Coldrif' cough syrup

Fourteen children recently died in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, from suspected renal failure linked to the consumption of a 'toxic' cough syrup.

"It has been confirmed that the sale of these problematic batches has not taken place in Kerala. Coldrif medicines are sold in Kerala through eight distributors. Their supply and sale have now been stopped," the statement said.