DRAP's Warning on Contaminated Cough Syrups

Contaminated batches of cough syrups have raised serious concerns globally, with the World Health Organization issuing a warning about the presence of propylene glycol, a solvent known to be harmful, especially to children. This alert follows a notification from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) regarding the detection of high levels of ethylene glycol (EG) in syrups supposedly produced by Dow Chemical subsidiaries in various countries.

DRAP's tests revealed EG contamination levels ranging from 0.76% to a staggering 100%, far exceeding the safe limit of 0.1% set by international standards. Tragically, contaminated cough syrups from India and Indonesia have been linked to more than 300 child deaths worldwide since late 2022, primarily due to elevated levels of EG and diethylene glycol.

In a disturbing revelation, it was found that in Indonesia, drums containing EG were being sold for pharmaceutical use with false Dow Thailand labels. DRAP took action against batches labeled as manufactured in 2023, even after a global alert from WHO urging verification of supplier quality. Dow Chemical confirmed that the flagged materials were not theirs, hinting at deliberate mislabeling practices.

The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated, as the health and safety of vulnerable populations, particularly children, are at stake. Authorities must intensify efforts to ensure the quality and integrity of pharmaceutical products to prevent further tragedies caused by contaminated substances.