Following the tragic deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly linked to the consumption of contaminated cough syrup, the Jharkhand government has imposed a complete ban on the sale, purchase, and use of three cough syrup brands — Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and Relife. The decision came after tests conducted by a Madhya Pradesh laboratory confirmed that the syrups contained diethylene glycol (DEG) — a toxic chemical — in quantities far exceeding the permissible limit. The laboratory also classified the products as substandard.
In an official order issued by Ritu Sahay, Joint Director of the State Drug Control Directorate, all drug inspectors across Jharkhand have been directed to immediately halt the sale and distribution of these three syrups.
Inspectors have also been instructed to conduct field inspections, collect samples, and send them for laboratory testing, while reporting the findings to the Directorate.
According to the directive, Coldrif is manufactured in Tamil Nadu, while Respifresh TR and Relife are products of pharmaceutical companies based in Gujarat.
Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari said the health and safety of Jharkhand’s citizens remain the government’s top priority. “In the interest of public health, we have immediately banned the sale and use of Coldrif, Respifresh, and Relife cough syrups,” he said.
Expressing deep condolences over the deaths of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Dr Ansari said the state government has acted promptly after these syrups were found to be non-compliant with safety standards.
“An official notification has been issued, and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence,” he added.
The Health Minister has directed all district drug controllers and inspectors to collect samples of suspected cough syrups from medical stores and pharmaceutical distributors across the state for laboratory testing to ensure that harmful or substandard medicines are identified and removed from circulation.
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