After cases of children dying after consuming cough syrup in India became public, the Nepal Department of Drug Management has instructed manufacturers, distributors, doctors, and consumers to take it seriously.
The department has urged people to take special precautions regarding cough medicines, including Coldrif cough syrup, which can be life-threatening to children.
The department issued a notice on Tuesday stating that toxic substances called ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol were found in some cough syrups manufactured in India and that 18 children died due to their consumption. Informing that ‘Coldriff Cough Syrup’ is not registered in Nepal, the department has mentioned that it has previously issued warnings about medicines containing such toxic substances.
According to a World Health Organization working document, it is directing the testing of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol in the production of liquid medicines. The department has directed manufacturers to purchase raw materials used in pharmaceutical production (propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, and glycerin/glycerin) only from accredited vendors.
There is a provision that testing should be done according to the prescribed method before production, and even after production, each batch should be tested for toxic substances before being sent to the market.
Importers have been instructed to verify that each batch of liquid cough medicines imported into Nepal is free from adulteration of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol. The medicines can be imported and sold only after testing.
Pharmacies and drug stores have been asked to sell and distribute only medicines registered with the department, while doctors have been asked to prescribe only registered medicines.
It is recommended that cough medicines be prescribed only based on scientific evidence for children two years of age or younger.
The department has urged children to use any cough medicine only as advised by a doctor, to read the information on the medicine label carefully, and to use only medicines registered with the department.