New Delhi, 6 October (IANS). The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notice to the Principal Secretaries of Health Departments of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. This notice has been issued in the case of death of 12 children in both states allegedly drinking fake phlegm syrup.
A bench headed by NHRC member Priyanka Kanungo paid attention to a complaint, alleging serious flaws in the drug safety and regulatory mechanisms, causing the tragedy.
The complaint demanded immediate intervention from the top human rights bodies in the incidents in Chhindwara and Vidisha districts of Madhya Pradesh as well as some districts of Rajasthan, where children died due to alleged drinking cough medicine.
Initial tests of the Union Health Ministry do not find toxic substances such as diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol, which can damage the kidney, but the exact cause of the death of children is not yet clear.
In many cases, there has been talk of kidney failure and other complications. The complainant has described it as a violation of children’s basic rights, such as life, health and right to safe drugs.
The complaint has demanded a special inquiry into the construction, distribution, regulatory flaws and possible adulteration of cuff syrup.
NHRC has issued notice to Principal Secretaries of Health and Family Welfare Departments of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments under Section 12 of the Human Rights Protection Act, 1993. They have been instructed to check immediately, collect samples of cuff syrup, conduct their examination in regional laboratories and immediately stop the sale of fake drugs.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed India’s Drugs Controller General (DCGI), the Central Drug Standards Control Organization and the Union Ministry of Health to conduct a thorough investigation into the supply chain of fake drugs. Also, all regional laboratories of the concerned states have been ordered to collect samples and examine them.
NHRC said, “The main drugs controllers of all concerned states are instructed to start the process of immediately banning fake drugs and submit their reports.”
All officers have been asked to submit their action report (ATR) to NHRC within two weeks, so that further action can be taken.
-IANS
PSK