India's cough syrup tragedy proves huge drug safety gaps – DW – 10/14/2025

India's Cough Syrup Tragedy Exposes Alarming Drug Safety Gaps MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA - October 14, 2025 - In a shocking turn of events, over 20 children under the age of five have died in India's central state of Madhya Pradesh after consuming contaminated cough syrup containing high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), an industrial solvent and antifreeze chemical. The tragedy has left the nation reeling, with many questioning the country's drug safety protocols. According to officials, most of the victims were prescribed the tainted syrup over the past month. "This is a wake-up call for our regulatory bodies," said Dr. Suresh Kumar, Director-General of India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). "We will leave no stone unturned in investigating this incident and ensuring that such tragedies never happen again." The contaminated cough syrup has been linked to several past tragedies, including the deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan in 2023, around 70 children in The Gambia in 2022, and 12 in Jammu in 2019-2020. "This is not an isolated incident," said Dr. Kumar. "We need to take a hard look at our manufacturing processes and regulatory frameworks to prevent such tragedies." The Indian pharmaceutical industry has long been touted as one of the country's success stories, with many global companies outsourcing their production to India due to its cost-effectiveness and skilled workforce. However, this tragedy raises questions about the safety and efficacy of Indian-made medicines. "This incident is a black mark on our industry," said Ramesh Shah, President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA). "We need to ensure that our manufacturing processes meet international standards and that regulatory bodies are more vigilant in monitoring our products." The government has responded swiftly to the crisis by banning the sale of the tainted syrup across multiple states, issuing pediatric cough syrup advisories, and launching an investigation into the matter. The CDSCO has also issued a statement assuring the public that they will take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. As the nation grapples with this tragedy, many are left wondering how such a large-scale safety gap could exist within India's pharmaceutical industry. "This incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in our regulatory frameworks," said Dr. Kumar. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what steps will be taken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. For now, the nation can only mourn the loss of these young lives and hope that lessons are learned from this tragedy. Background: India's pharmaceutical industry has grown exponentially over the years, with many global companies outsourcing their production to India due to its cost-effectiveness and skilled workforce. However, this growth has also raised concerns about safety and efficacy standards in Indian-made medicines. Additional Perspectives: "This incident is a wake-up call for our regulatory bodies," said Dr. Suresh Kumar, Director-General of CDSCO. "We need to ensure that our manufacturing processes meet international standards and that regulatory bodies are more vigilant in monitoring our products," said Ramesh Shah, President of IPA. Current Status: The government has banned the sale of the tainted syrup across multiple states and launched an investigation into the matter. The CDSCO has also issued a statement assuring the public that they will take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Next Developments: The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what steps will be taken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. *Reporting by Dw.*