The Madhya Pradesh government has announced that it will bear the entire cost of treatment for children suffering from kidney infections caused by a contaminated cough syrup in Chhindwara and Betul districts, officials said on Tuesday.
According to officials, 14 children from Chhindwara have died due to suspected renal failure linked to the consumption of “toxic” Coldrif cough syrup. Another nine children — seven from Chhindwara and two from Betul — are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed authorities to ensure that all medical expenses of the affected children are covered by the state government. “The administration must ensure that the entire cost of treatment is borne by the government,” Yadav instructed, according to an official statement.
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A joint team of executive magistrates and doctors has been deployed across hospitals in Nagpur to oversee the treatment process and stay in constant contact with affected families. The team is coordinating with hospitals to ensure that adequate care and support are provided to all the children.
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In connection with the deaths, the Madhya Pradesh government has suspended two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The state’s drug controller has also been transferred, officials confirmed.
Additionally, Dr Praveen Soni from Chhindwara has been arrested for alleged negligence, and a case has been registered against Sresan Pharmaceutical, the Tamil Nadu-based company that manufactures Coldrif cough syrup.
Following laboratory findings that confirmed the syrup contained a highly toxic substance, the sale of Coldrif syrup has been banned across Madhya Pradesh.
