(In the weekly Health Matters newsletter, Ramya Kannan writes about getting to good health, and staying there. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox.)
Negative stories, unfortunately, are the louder stories. But perhaps, with something as horrific as contaminated cough syrup killing children, loud is best to ensure that it never happens again.
Last week’s horror story played out in full measure throughout, though the news of deaths over the last weekend was just the initial shocker. Twenty-four children died in Madhya Pradesh and three others were in a critical condition in hospital, after consuming an adulterated cough syrup. Lab tests from Tamil Nadu, where the manufacturer was located, showed that the syrup contained a high concentration of industrial diethylene glycol, known to cause liver and kidney failure.
If you are new to this story, and you want some context do watch this video explainer by Shikha Kumar A. and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian: Cough syrup horror: a medicine that became poison in Madhya Pradesh. For an in-depth report, do look at this long form piece by Bindu Shajan Perappadan and Mehul Malpani on the Killer cough syrup.
The system finally kicked in, too late for the children though, and it has revealed some horrific practices in pharma manufacture in the country.
Zubeda Hamid tried to look at what ails the industry here: Cough syrup deaths: Where is India going wrong with its medicines, in the In Focus Podcast. Sources told our reporters: ‘No State has fully complied with key drug quality norms’. While 18 State drug control authorities across the country have adopted the Online National Drugs Licensing System (ONDLS) for processing drug-related licences, no State has yet fully complied with the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) guidelines, confirmed a source in the Union Health Ministry. Spurred by these alarming incidents, the WHO sought a clarification from India if the cough syrup had been exported to other countries; and also issued a medical product alert on three contaminated oral liquid medicines in India. These were identified to be specific batches of COLDRIF, Respifresh TR and ReLife, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma.
Meanwhile the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a directive to the Drug Controllers of all States and Union Territories, calling for strict enforcement of the Drugs Rules, 1945, with specific emphasis on the mandatory testing of raw materials and finished pharmaceutical products. Drug makers should test every batch of raw material, finished product, it said. The CDSCO also called for list of all cough syrup manufacturers, initiated joint audit.
Tamil Nadu set the regulatory wheels in motion: it has promised to take ‘criminal action’ against cough syrup-maker, after cancelling its manufacturing licence and arresting the owner of Sresan Pharma, besides suspending two senior drug inspectors for failure to test the samples before distribution. An SIT from Madhya Pradesh also conducted a probe at the factory of Sresan Pharma.
Several States have banned the sale and distribution of existing stocks of the drug – Coldrif, including Delhi, Telangana and Manipur while Karnataka health officials were put on high alert after news of the MP tragedy and the cough syrup trickled in. From a political angle, Congress seeks CBI probe, MP Health Minister’s resignation over government ‘negligence’.
The other marquee event for us at the health desk was the announcement of the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology – the first Nobel announcement for the year. Three scientists – Japanese and American – were recognised for their work on the discovery of a specific category of T cells – regulatory T cells – that keep the body from attacking itself. Over 200 trials are already on to actualise applications of this in oncology, transplantation medicine and in treating autoimmune diseases. Do read about Regulatory T cells and the way they keep the immune system in check and the work done by Americans Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, and Japan’s Shimon Sakaguchi.
Another significant move by an Indian State that made us sit up and take notice was Karnataka approving one day paid menstrual leave in govt and private sectors. Rishita Khanna chimed in with an analysis piece that brings in the aspiration of the lowest cadre of workers on the labour ladder: Menstrual leave: Many women welcome move, unorganised workers too seek inclusion.
October (10) also marks Mental Health Day and we published a compilation of articles that will definitely increase our understanding of the full complement of mental health issues.
In the article Gender-affirming care and mental health: why India cannot wait Manmeet Kaur Bhatia, Y.K. Sandhya and Deepika Saluja argue that transgender people in India continue to live with disproportionate levels of social exclusion, unemployment, violence, and poor health. Mental health is perhaps the most neglected area, with depression, anxiety, and suicidality at rates far higher than the general population, as a result of systematic barriers. M.J. Saranya calls for prompt psychological support to help Navigate a failed IVF cycle.
Samayeta Bal calls for a unified mental health response in India, while Amal Chandra, Naimisha in their article India’s mental health crisis, the cries and scars make an impassioned call for interventions: “If India truly aspires to be modern, progressive and humane, it must prove this by saving the lives now slipping away in silence,” they say.
Find Debasree Purkayastha’s interview with Sanjeev Jain, emeritus professor of psychiatry with The National Institute Of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) here: Mental health care in India continues to remain out of reach for most who need it: expert and Serena Josephine M. writes on the The urgent need to prioritise mental health needs during crises, what with the crises from extreme weather events becoming more common.
Turning on our gender lens, we looked at a Study that provided genetic evidence as to why women are possibly twice at risk of depression than men. Anasuya Menon asks, Who are you turning to for your mental health concerns? thereby taking ahead our sustained reporting and emphasis on the dangers of seeking the health of AI tools, or online devices for medical health.
Here’s a review of a compilation of essays by women with mental health conditions, and tools and techniques to swim through the dark waters, in the Sunday Magazine. Homecoming was put together by Neha Kirpal and Nandini Murali. Milind Kumar Sharma lists reasons for insisting that India’s public universities must embrace mental health education.
As the WHO released its GLASS report on Monday, it warned that the Spread of drug-resistant superbugs was surging, with pointers to pathogen-wise and region-wise growing antimicrobial resistance. In this context, we had an excellent explainer from Dr. Abdul Ghafur on Why we need to change the way we talk about antibiotic resistance.
The tailpiece for the week had our noses quivering like naked mole rats that go after food in their subterranean peregrinations: research has revealed that these naked mole rats can fix their DNA by themselves and they live longer than their other cousins. Apparently Just four mutations help naked mole rats fix their DNA. Fascinating, eh? And the possibilities it holds for the eternal life seekers, well, a glimmer of hope at least.
Our list of explainers is sizeably long list this week, do pick and read:
Dr. Atul Bhaskar debunks myths about Cerebral Palsy
Athira Elssa Johnson tells you All you need to know about: Down Syndrome. She also examines wound care in this article: Are infections leading to preventable amputations in India?
Dr. Usha Sriram provides a comprehensive picture of PCOS and gives you a list of what you need to know to effectively manage your health
Dr. J. Amalorpavanathan provides tips to Stay active, keep dangerous blood clots at bay on Thrombosis Day (October 13)
If you have a few extra moments, here are a few links you could stop by at:
C. Maya authors a piece on Kerala notifying snakebite envenomation as a disease of public health importance
Vijaita Singh records this important story that well illustrates the demographic transition that India is currently undergoing: Number of births declines; deaths rise slightly: report
Dr. Parth Sharma asks: Do we need more palliative medicine specialists in India?
R. Aishwarya writes on the Gaps in anti-rabies treatment that persist in Chennai’s health centres
Even on ‘clear’ days, the air can be chemically toxic
Preventing maternal deaths: WHO guidelines and clinicians urge action on postpartum haemorrhage
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Published – October 14, 2025 05:30 pm IST
