
The Union Health Ministry on Sunday held an emergency high-level meeting with health secretaries and drug control officials from all States and Union Territories in the wake of multiple child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrup. The review followed the deaths of at least 14 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after consuming a locally made cough syrup branded Coldrif, which was found to contain the toxic chemical diethylene glycol (DEG). Officials said the meeting focused on enforcing tighter oversight of cough syrup manufacturing, ensuring rational prescription practices, and expanding surveillance systems to prevent future tragedies.