India’s Urgent Action: New Drug Safety Law After Tragic Child Deaths
The Indian government is set to revamp the country’s drug monitoring system in response to recent child fatalities linked to contaminated cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh. Officials announced that a new law will empower the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to oversee the manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics across the country.
The proposed “Drugs, Medical Devices, and Cosmetics Act 2025” aims to replace the outdated legislation from 1940 and bring Indian regulations in line with international standards. According to sources, the law is designed to improve transparency and accountability throughout the entire supply chain, from production to marketing.
Under the new framework, CDSCO will have the authority to quickly address issues related to counterfeit or substandard drugs. Licensing processes will be fully digitized, laboratory capacities will expand, and coordination with state regulators will be strengthened, as stated by officials.
In recent years, several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu, have reported child deaths associated with contaminated cough syrups. Following the latest incidents in Madhya Pradesh, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a health advisory alerting the public about three specific syrups: Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife.
The government emphasized that these new measures are intended to enhance the safety of India’s drug system, ensuring better protection for public health against unsafe medications.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/national/story/india-to-introduce-new-drug-safety-law-after-child-deaths-linked-to-toxic-cough-syrup-1291152-2025-10-15?utm_source=rssfeed
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-10-15 22:19:00