India's deadly cough syrup scandal exposes drug safety failures

India’s drug safety system is under scrutiny after sub-standard cough syrups caused multiple deaths. The Supreme Court has criticised the pharmaceutical industry for damaging the country’s reputation. Calls for modernising the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, are growing louder. Contaminated cough syrups containing diethylene glycol have led to kidney and liver failure in children. These incidents occurred in several regions, with fatal consequences. The contaminant was linked directly to the deaths.

The union government has now banned the over-the-counter sale of cough syrups without a prescription. However, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has faced criticism for slow action. It has also been accused of withholding information about manufacturers with serious quality failures.

A major issue is the lack of a unified system to regulate drug producers across all states. The existing framework has failed to address these problems for decades. The Supreme Court’s reprimand highlights the urgency of reforming the outdated act. The ban on non-prescription cough syrups aims to prevent further harm. The CDSCO’s slow enforcement and secrecy have weakened public trust. Modernising the Drugs and Cosmetics Act is now seen as essential to improve drug safety and restore confidence.