Contaminated Paediatric Drug in Telangana: A Public Health Alert

 

Contaminated Paediatric Drug in Telangana: A Public Health Alert

(For UPSC GS Paper II & III – Governance, Health, Regulation, Current Affairs)

The Telangana Drug Control Administration (DCA) has issued a stop-use notice for a batch of Almont-Kid Syrup after it was found contaminated with ethylene glycol (EG), a toxic industrial chemical. The alert follows laboratory testing by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), East Zone, Kolkata.

Key Details

• Drug Name: Almont-Kid Syrup

• Use: Treatment of allergic symptoms in children (runny nose, sneezing, itching, swelling, congestion)

• Contaminant: Ethylene Glycol (EG)

• Batch Number: AL-24002

• Manufacturing Date: January 2025

• Manufacturer: Tridus Remedies, Vaishali, Bihar

• Issuing Authority: Telangana DCA

• Toll-Free Helpline: 1800-599-6969 (Working days, 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

Why is Ethylene Glycol Dangerous?

Ethylene glycol is a nephrotoxic and neurotoxic compound commonly used in antifreeze and industrial solvents. Ingestion can cause:

• Acute kidney failure

• Metabolic acidosis

• Neurological damage

• Death, especially in children

Past incidents in India (e.g., Gambia and Uzbekistan cough syrup tragedy, 2022) highlight how pharmaceutical contamination can lead to international health emergencies and diplomatic concerns.

Regulatory and Administrative Response

The DCA has:

1. Frozen distribution of the contaminated batch.

2. Directed retailers, wholesalers, hospitals to stop sale and quarantine stocks.

3. Initiated enforcement proceedings against the manufacturer.

4. Issued a public advisory for immediate discontinuation and reporting.

This reflects the working of:

• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

• CDSCO (India’s National Drug Regulatory Authority)

• State Drug Control Administrations as implementing agencies.

UPSC Relevance

GS Paper II (Governance & Social Justice):

• Role of regulatory bodies in public health

• Centre–State coordination in drug safety

• Accountability mechanisms in pharmaceutical regulation

GS Paper III (Science & Technology / Internal Security):

• Drug quality control and testing infrastructure

• Toxicology and chemical safety

• Supply chain vulnerabilities in pharma sector

Essay & Ethics:

• Corporate responsibility vs. profit motives

• Ethical lapses in drug manufacturing

• State’s duty to protect vulnerable populations (children)

Way Forward (Answer Enrichment Points)

• Strengthening pharmacovigilance systems

• Mandatory batch-wise real-time tracking

• Independent quality audits of manufacturing units

• Severe penal action under criminal negligence

• International harmonisation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

This incident underlines that public health security is as critical as national security, and regulatory vigilance must be continuous, scientific, and uncompromising.