FAIMA Urges Health Ministry to Form Central Committee to Investigate Fatal Contaminated Cough Syrup Cases

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has expressed 'deep concern' regarding children's deaths linked to contaminated cough syrup and called on the Health Ministry to establish a central committee to investigate these incidents.

Coldrif, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram, has been associated with over 20 children's deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

FAIMA stated, "The incident has raised serious questions about the safety, quality assurance, and monitoring mechanisms governing the manufacture and distribution of pharmaceutical products for children."

The medical organization has requested the Health Ministry to "constitute a central investigation committee under the Ministry to conduct a detailed and impartial inquiry into the incident."

This proposed investigation should examine "all stages of manufacturing, quality testing, and distribution" and include qualified medical experts, pharmacologists, and representatives from various states to ensure transparency, neutrality, and multidisciplinary oversight.

FAIMA has urged this "committee to conduct nationwide inspections and random testing of paediatric medicines and syrups to verify compliance with established quality standards," and to deliver a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations.

The organization also called for improved coordination between State Drug Control Authorities and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to achieve uniform enforcement and surveillance.

Additionally, FAIMA advocated for stricter enforcement measures to regulate quack practices and the unauthorized sale of non-OTC medications by pharmacies without proper prescriptions.

Following the arrest of a doctor for prescribing the faulty cough syrup, FAIMA emphasized the need to "ensure that registered doctors are not wrongfully blamed or harassed until the investigation is completed" and called for the "immediate release from custody" of the arrested physician.

Previously, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had also strongly objected to the doctor's arrest in Madhya Pradesh.

The IMA described the arrest as "an indiscriminate action against a doctor," stating this was clearly a case of a spurious drug as defined in Section 17 B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.