State government should release white paper on Coldrif issue, demands association
The Hindu
TNHDA urges Tamil Nadu government to release a white paper on Coldrif syrup linked to child fatalities in Madhya Pradesh.
The Tamil Nadu Health Development Association (TNHDA) has demanded that the State government should release a white paper about Sreesan Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup linked to the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh in October 2025, and its operations in Tamil Nadu.
Releasing a report on “Prevention of Adulterated and Spurious Drugs” on Saturday, TNHDA and the report’s author P.B. Suresh Babu, advocate, Madras High Court, demanded a white paper on the Coldrif issue. It may be recalled that the samples of the syrup, which was manufactured at Sreesan Pharmaceutical’s facility in Kancheepuram, were found to be contaminated with Diethylene Glycol, a toxic substance.
Mr. Babu pointed out that there were similar such incidents of drugs manufactured in India that had caused deaths in other countries as well as incidents in many States. Another demand raised by TNHDA was bringing drugs under the State List in Schedule VII along with Health.
Justice D. Hariparanthaman, Former Judge, Madras High Court, who released the report, noted that education, including medical education, was under the concurrent list, while universities were under the State list. “Similarly, Health is under the State list and drugs are in the concurrent list,” he said.
C.S. Rex Sargunam, president of TNHDA, Chennai, said in a developed society, medicines intended to save lives causing deaths are unacceptable. He said that those involved in manufacturing spurious and adulterated drugs should be made accountable and prosecuted as per law, and existing laws should be implemented properly to prevent such malpractices.
Melvin Martin, consultant Nephrologist, St. Isabel’s Hospital, said awareness, access to healthcare, absence of adequate manpower, affordability and accountability were the challenges in healthcare in India.
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