A generic cough syrup supplied to the Rajasthan government has been linked to the deaths of at least two children and illness in several others across the state over the past two weeks. In response, authorities have banned 22 batches of the drug and launched an official inquiry, officials told PTI on Wednesday.
The syrup was distributed through government health centres, raising serious concerns over child safety and quality control.
Children Fall Ill After Taking Syrup
The crisis came to light after a five-year-old from Sikar district died on Monday, hours after being given the syrup prescribed at a local community health centre.
Rohitashwa Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Dadiya police station, told PTI that the child, Nitish, son of Mukesh Sharma, received the medicine on Sunday evening at Chirana community health centre. His condition deteriorated overnight, and he died while being taken to hospital on Monday morning.
Although the parents refused a complaint or post-mortem, the maternal grandfather lodged a formal report.
This followed an earlier incident on 22 September in Bharatpur, where two-year-old Samrat Jatav died after consuming the same syrup. According to his grandmother, Nehni Jatav, three of her grandchildren had taken the syrup; two recovered after vomiting, but Samrat tragically did not regain consciousness.
Senior Doctor Collapses After Testing Syrup
In a shocking turn, a senior doctor reportedly consumed the syrup on 24 September to demonstrate its safety to concerned parents. Dr Tarachand Yogi, in charge of Bayana community health centre, fell unconscious eight hours later in his car, highlighting the potential dangers of the medicine.
Officials also reported that eight other children aged between one and five years fell ill in Banswara district after taking the syrup last week.
Rajasthan Government Bans Syrup and Orders Immediate Recall
Following these incidents, the Rajasthan government has banned 22 batches of the cough syrup and ordered an immediate recall of all existing stock.
“Doctors have been instructed not to prescribe the syrup, samples from all 22 batches are being tested, and supplies from Kayson Pharma have been halted,” said Jai Singh, executive director for quality control at Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited, to PTI.
Since July, over 1.33 lakh bottles of the syrup had been distributed across the state. At Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital alone, 8,200 bottles remain, but authorities have confirmed they should not be administered.
Inquiry Launched to Ensure Accountability
The Rajasthan health department has ordered a full investigation to determine the cause of contamination and ensure accountability. Drug Controller Ajay Phatak told PTI that samples have been collected from Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Bharatpur, with test results expected within three days.
Phatak emphasised that the syrup should not be given to children below five years of age until the inquiry is complete.
Lessons Not Learned From 2021 Delhi Tragedy
Experts note that the Rajasthan government appears to have ignored warnings from a similar incident in Delhi in 2021, when three children died after consuming a cough syrup containing dextromethorphan, the same ingredient now linked to the Sikar death, reports TOI.
After the Delhi deaths, the Directorate General of Health Services had instructed all clinics and hospitals in the capital to avoid giving dextromethorphan-based medicines to children under four. Although the directive was not nationwide, activists argue that state health authorities should have exercised caution.
In Rajasthan, the syrup was still being prescribed to children under four at government hospitals under the ‘free medicine’ programme, until the suspension following the Sikar death and illness reports in Sikar and Bharatpur.
Kaysons Pharma supplied the syrup in June as part of this year’s procurement, with officials noting it had already reached 133,000 patients. In the 2021 Delhi case, a different company had supplied the drug.
Inputs from agencies
The syrup was distributed through government health centres, raising serious concerns over child safety and quality control.
Children Fall Ill After Taking Syrup
The crisis came to light after a five-year-old from Sikar district died on Monday, hours after being given the syrup prescribed at a local community health centre.
Rohitashwa Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Dadiya police station, told PTI that the child, Nitish, son of Mukesh Sharma, received the medicine on Sunday evening at Chirana community health centre. His condition deteriorated overnight, and he died while being taken to hospital on Monday morning.
Although the parents refused a complaint or post-mortem, the maternal grandfather lodged a formal report.
This followed an earlier incident on 22 September in Bharatpur, where two-year-old Samrat Jatav died after consuming the same syrup. According to his grandmother, Nehni Jatav, three of her grandchildren had taken the syrup; two recovered after vomiting, but Samrat tragically did not regain consciousness.
Senior Doctor Collapses After Testing Syrup
In a shocking turn, a senior doctor reportedly consumed the syrup on 24 September to demonstrate its safety to concerned parents. Dr Tarachand Yogi, in charge of Bayana community health centre, fell unconscious eight hours later in his car, highlighting the potential dangers of the medicine.
Officials also reported that eight other children aged between one and five years fell ill in Banswara district after taking the syrup last week.
Rajasthan Government Bans Syrup and Orders Immediate Recall
Following these incidents, the Rajasthan government has banned 22 batches of the cough syrup and ordered an immediate recall of all existing stock.
“Doctors have been instructed not to prescribe the syrup, samples from all 22 batches are being tested, and supplies from Kayson Pharma have been halted,” said Jai Singh, executive director for quality control at Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited, to PTI.
Since July, over 1.33 lakh bottles of the syrup had been distributed across the state. At Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital alone, 8,200 bottles remain, but authorities have confirmed they should not be administered.
Inquiry Launched to Ensure Accountability
The Rajasthan health department has ordered a full investigation to determine the cause of contamination and ensure accountability. Drug Controller Ajay Phatak told PTI that samples have been collected from Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Bharatpur, with test results expected within three days.
Phatak emphasised that the syrup should not be given to children below five years of age until the inquiry is complete.
Lessons Not Learned From 2021 Delhi Tragedy
Experts note that the Rajasthan government appears to have ignored warnings from a similar incident in Delhi in 2021, when three children died after consuming a cough syrup containing dextromethorphan, the same ingredient now linked to the Sikar death, reports TOI.
After the Delhi deaths, the Directorate General of Health Services had instructed all clinics and hospitals in the capital to avoid giving dextromethorphan-based medicines to children under four. Although the directive was not nationwide, activists argue that state health authorities should have exercised caution.
In Rajasthan, the syrup was still being prescribed to children under four at government hospitals under the ‘free medicine’ programme, until the suspension following the Sikar death and illness reports in Sikar and Bharatpur.
Kaysons Pharma supplied the syrup in June as part of this year’s procurement, with officials noting it had already reached 133,000 patients. In the 2021 Delhi case, a different company had supplied the drug.
Inputs from agencies
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