Child Deaths From Cough Syrups Point to Drug Safety Failures

At least 22 children have died in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan since September after consuming Coldrif, a cough syrup found to contain fatal levels of diethylene glycol, a harmful chemical found in products like coolants and industrial cleaners. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern about the failure of India’s domestic drug regulatory system to enforce proper screening and manufacturing standards for medicines sold within the country.