Madhya Pradesh Cough Syrup Tragedy Deepens: Doctor’s Family Medical Store Licence Cancelled, Probe Widens to Regulatory Lapses and Manufacturers
In a widening probe into the Madhya Pradesh cough syrup tragedy that allegedly claimed the lives of 14 children, the state government has suspended the licence of Apna Medical Stores in Parasia, Chhindwara — a pharmacy reportedly owned by a relative of Dr. Praveen Soni, the paediatrician accused of prescribing the contaminated cough syrup.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern that the tragedy has exposed deep-rooted irregularities in the nexus between medical practitioners, chemists, and drug distributors — with several reports suggesting that many doctors across the state have been running medical shops under the names of family members, often in violation of licensing and regulatory norms.
The Chain of Contamination
According to officials, over 600 bottles of contaminated cough syrup — identified as Coldrif — were dispatched from Jabalpur to Chhindwara, with a substantial portion reaching Parasia, where the deaths were reported.
Of these, authorities have so far seized around 400 bottles, while 200 remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the toxic medicine may already be in circulation among unsuspecting families.
“The medical store linked to Dr. Soni’s family is located adjacent to his clinic. During inspection, they were unable to produce valid purchase records for the contaminated batch.
We are probing whether the local distributor and Dr. Soni’s family were directly or indirectly connected in the procurement and sale of the syrup,” said a senior official involved in the investigation.
Licence Cancelled After Serious Violations Found
Following an inspection by the Office of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in Chhindwara, authorities found multiple violations at Apna Medical Stores under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
Licensing Authority Sharad Kumar Jain stated that the inspection uncovered “serious irregularities” — including incomplete sales records, sale of medicines without a registered pharmacist, and failure to produce bills or stock documentation.
Despite being served a show-cause notice, the proprietor failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, leading to the immediate cancellation of the store’s licence.
Administrative Action and Accountability
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, taking cognizance of the systemic failures, announced suspensions and transfers of senior drug regulatory officials for alleged negligence in monitoring pharmaceutical safety.
Those suspended include Drug Inspector (Chhindwara) Gaurav Sharma, Drug Inspector (Jabalpur) Sharad Kumar Jain, and Deputy Director of FDA Shobhit Koshta, while Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya was transferred pending further inquiry.
Their roles are now under scrutiny for failing to detect the circulation of contaminated syrup before the tragedy unfolded.
Mass Recovery Drive Ordered
In an unprecedented move, CM Yadav directed authorities to not only ban the sale of Coldrif syrup but also recover existing stock from shops and households. He ordered a district-wide operation involving ASHA and USHA workers, tasking them with door-to-door visits to identify families that may have consumed the syrup.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the government must go “beyond symbolic bans” and ensure complete recall and safe disposal of the tainted product.
He also ordered a comprehensive audit of all drug inventories across Chhindwara and nearby districts, including checks on whether proper warnings and dosage instructions are printed on medicines being sold.
Call for Action Against Manufacturers
While regulatory lapses at the distribution and retail levels are being addressed, public health experts and industry observers have demanded that the manufacturer of the contaminated cough syrup be held accountable. “The investigation cannot stop at doctors or chemists.
The root cause lies in manufacturing quality control, and if toxic formulations were produced, the company responsible must face criminal prosecution and blacklisting,” said a senior health official.
This sentiment is echoed by several doctors’ associations and pharmacists’ unions, who argue that systemic failure — not individual negligence — enabled the tragedy.
They point out that lax testing, unregulated sales channels, and the informal nexus between doctors and drug distributors have long been ignored by state regulators.
Wider Review and Preventive Steps
The government has begun a statewide inspection of hospitals, clinics, and chemist outlets to detect irregularities in medical store ownership, especially those operating under the names of doctors’ relatives. Officials have also met with private practitioners, hospitals, and chemists to raise awareness and tighten compliance.
A survey has been launched to trace affected children and families, with serious cases referred to the Government Medical College, Nagpur, for treatment. CM Yadav also directed coordination with the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and local chemist associations to strengthen public awareness and safety monitoring.
As investigations deepen, the Madhya Pradesh cough syrup tragedy is fast becoming a test case for India’s drug regulation system — exposing dangerous loopholes in manufacturing oversight, pharmacy licensing, and ethical medical practice.
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