Cough Syrup crisis: Rajasthan govt suspends drug controller, halts distribution of Kaysons Pharma medicines

Written By : Ruchika Sharma |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2025-10-04T13:01:14+05:30 | Updated On 4 Oct 2025 1:01 PM IST

Jaipur: In a swift and decisive move, the Rajasthan government has suspended the state's drug controller and ordered the cessation of distribution for medicines manufactured by Jaipur-based Kaysons Pharma.

This follows reports linking contaminated cough syrup to the deaths of 11 children—nine in Madhya Pradesh and two in Rajasthan.

The Medical and Health Department confirmed that all 19 medicines produced by Kaysons Pharma have now been stopped from supply until further orders. In addition, the distribution of all other cough syrups containing Dextromethorphan has also been suspended.

The government has placed drug controller Rajaram Sharma under suspension for allegedly influencing the process of determining drug standards, the department said.

As per PTI, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has ordered a detailed probe into the matter along with effective action.

Following his instructions, an expert committee is being constituted to investigate the issue.

Health Minister Gajendra Singh also ordered an inquiry and measures to safeguard public interest, an official statement said.

Principal Secretary in the Medical and Health Department, Gayatri Rathore, said the Union government issued an advisory in 2021 against administering Dextromethorphan to children below four years.

The state has reiterated the advisory, while the Drug Controller General of India on Friday advised that the syrup should normally be given only to children above five years, and in no circumstances to those under two years of age.

Officials added that drugs which are potentially harmful to children and pregnant women will now carry clear warning labels.

According to the managing director of Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Ltd (RMSCL), Pukhraj Sen, over 10,000 samples of Kaysons Pharma drugs have been tested since 2012, of which 42 failed the quality standards.

As a precaution, the supply of all 19 medicines manufactured by the company has been suspended.

rajasthan drug controllercough syrupKaysons PharmaDextromethorphanRajaram Sharma

Source : with inputs

Ruchika Sharma

Ruchika Sharma joined Medical Dialogue as an Correspondent for the Business Section in 2019. She covers all the updates in the Pharmaceutical field, Policy, Insurance, Business Healthcare, Medical News, Health News, Pharma News, Healthcare and Investment. She has completed her B.Com from Delhi University and then pursued postgraduation in M.Com. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in Contact no. 011-43720751

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751