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WHO Flags Three Toxic Cough Syrups in India as Tamil Nadu Shuts Coldrif Maker

The global alert follows tests showing roughly 48% diethylene glycol in Coldrif, while regulators say the tainted batches were not exported.

Overview

  • WHO issued a medical alert for specific batches of Coldrif (Sresan), Respifresh TR (Rednex) and ReLife (Shape), warning of severe, potentially life‑threatening harm, with India reporting no exports of the flagged lots.
  • Tamil Nadu permanently canceled Sresan Pharmaceuticals’ manufacturing licence, ordered the facility closed, and directed comprehensive inspections of other drug units statewide.
  • The Enforcement Directorate searched seven Chennai locations linked to Sresan and senior Tamil Nadu drug control officials under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
  • Official lab reports in Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh found diethylene glycol at about 46–48.6% in Coldrif Batch SR‑13, far above the 0.1% limit, with at least 22 child deaths linked to the syrup.
  • Madhya Pradesh police said an arrested paediatrician, Praveen Soni, admitted taking a 10% commission per Coldrif bottle prescribed, a claim his lawyer disputes.