The company whose cough syrup has been linked to three deaths and a doctor losing consciousness in Rajasthan is now under the state government’s scanner. The administration has ordered a thorough investigation into all medicines manufactured by Kayson Pharma, which supplies the generic cough syrup to Rajasthan. The syrup was being distributed under the state’s free medicine scheme.
The first case was reported on Monday from Sikar, where a 5-year-old child died. Then, two families from Bharatpur district came forward, claiming their children also died in September after consuming the cough syrup, which contained the compound dextromethorphan hydrobromide and was manufactured by Kayson Pharma.
The government has now suspended the distribution of all Kayson Pharma medicines and ordered a thorough investigation. However, the government has refused to confirm that the deaths in Bharatpur were caused by the cough syrup, citing that the medicine was not mentioned on the prescription.
In Bharatpur, two children, Teerthraj and Samrat Jatav, died after drinking the syrup. Their parents said they got the syrup from a government health centre, which proved to be fatal for their 2-year-olds. As part of the government’s investigation, the medical department has stated that the health officer in the Sikar case will be suspended.
However, in the cases of deaths in Bharatpur, it said the medicine was not mentioned on the children’s prescriptions. Director of Public Health Dr Ravi Prakash Sharma emphasised that doctors had not prescribed dextromethorphan syrup in these cases. As per protocol, it is not recommended for children, he said.
Now, the government has banned all medicines supplied by Kayson Pharma under the free medicine scheme. But this is not the first time the company has come under scrutiny. Back in 2023, one of its medicines had been rejected for failing to meet quality standards.
So, how the firm got the tender again is also a matter of probe. The health department has issued an advisory to all physicians to adhere to prescribing protocols strictly, ensure that prescription-only medicines are dispensed responsibly, and prevent patients from consuming drugs without a medical consultation.
