Minister Addresses Contaminated Cough Syrup Concerns

Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel, informed Rajya Sabha that isolated cases of death in children due to allegedly contaminated cough syrup have been reported. The World Health Organization issued an alert about Indian drug products containing unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. Various brands manufacture and distribute these syrups in India.

The Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel, highlighted concerns about allegedly contaminated cough syrup during a Rajya Sabha session. She revealed that isolated cases of children's deaths due to these syrups have been reported in the past.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert concerning certain Indian drug products. According to the WHO, laboratory analyses confirmed the presence of unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.

Patel clarified that cough syrups in India are produced and distributed by various entities under different brand names and compositions. Despite the severity of isolated cases, no widespread deaths due to cough syrups have been recorded.