It is really intriguing that the country which boasts of to be one of the largest pharmaceutical suppliers across the world has been struggling to ensure the quality of medicines manufactured for local consumption. The recent reports of the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after allegedly consuming generic cough syrups have once again put the spotlight on the quality of medicines produced in India.
Though investigation in the matter is ongoing but prima facie it appears that there were accountability gaps which need to be addressed sooner than later or else such tragedies might become a near norm, which should not be the case. It is unfortunate that the helmsmen became active only after the tragedies struck as was seen earlier also when allegations were leveled against some Indian pharmaceutical companies after deaths of children related to consumption of sub-standard medicines abroad.
Reportedly, after the recent deaths of children reported from Rajasthan and MP allegedly due to contaminated cough syrups, the central drug regulator, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated risk-based inspection of drug manufacturing units in six states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra following collection of 19 samples, including that of cough syrups, antipyretics and antibiotics. It is necessary that a strict observation should be kept on manufacturing units of the medicines across the country round the clock with no scope for any kind of lethargy as any shortcoming can prove to be fatal as was seen in MP and Rajasthan.
In this very case, it is necessary that the entities behind the tragedy should be dealt with strictly under law to set an example and deter others from taking things complacently. All said and done, what is important is stopping such tragedies as setting accountability after tragedies occur makes no sense. Creating a culture of responsibility that prevents such incidents in the first place is the need of the hour and therefore the stakeholders should work to develop such a system. Ensuring drug quality should be a continuous process as compromising on standard can prove disastrous as seen in the aforesaid cases in the states of MP and Rajasthan.
