Khajuria asks HP CM to act against spurious drug companies, seeks compensation for affected child

Senior social activist Suke C. Khajuria has written to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur requesting him to take action against spurious drug manufacturing mafia in his state and help a poor child who had become a victim of such spurious drug. Sukesh Khajuria sought his attention towards the plight of a child who is in a serious condition and undergoing treatment at PGI, Chandigarh. The father of the child is a labourer in Himachal Pradesh and is unable to bear the expenses of the treatment. He further said that many young children have become victims of spurious drugs in North India.

Sukesh Khajuria appreciated Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister for taking cognizance of the matter by giving a statement on the floor of the HP assembly (vidhansabha) on Feb 15, 2020 regarding the action being initiated by his  government on an e-mail received from Drug Controller of Jammu & Kashmir UT informing about the deaths of infants/children due to presence of diethlene glycol in “Coldbest-PCsyrup” manufactured by M/S Digital Vision, 176 MauzaOgli , Nahan Road, Kala-Amb, Disttt.Sirmaur, HP 173205,marketed by M/s Orison pharmaceuticals 51,industrial Estate AmbalaCantt.

Himachal Pradesh Police have registered a case of attempt to commit culpable homicide &under the provisions of The Drugs and Cosmetics Act Against M/S Digital Vision, A Pharmaceutical Firm at Kala Amb in Sirmour District which Manufactured the Coldbest Pc Syrup that claimed the Lives Of 12 Infants In Ramnagar Area Of Udhampur District Of J&K UT in December 2019-January 2020.Manufacturing licenses no. S-MNB/08/01 & S-MB/08/02 of M/S Digital Vision has also been suspended with effect from March 02, 2020. An investigation in this case is pending. The company was asked to withdraw the stock of that batch drug immediately from the market and file a daily compliance report with the authority.

Sukesh .C.Khajuria who had earlier highlighted the deaths of infants in Ramnagar area of Udhampur district of J&K in December 2019-January 2020 due to the same drug and taken up the issue of compensation to the affected families with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister to intervene in the matter.

Sukesh Khajuria contended, “Now through the medium of this communication, I want to bring to your notice the miserable condition of a poor child struggling between life and death and her family who had become a victim of the spurious drugs. I plead with your good self to immediately intervene in the matter as it is not only your constitutional duty to safeguard the lives of the citizens but also to provide them justice.”

A two (2) year old child RadhikaD/o Monu (M) 78076-53688, Permanent resident of Kanhari,Hardoi- Uttar Pradesh-241123 (as per aadhar card Number 5349 21960929)and presently residing near SabziMandi, Baddi HP was admitted in advanced Paediatrics Center, PGIMER, Chandigarh on 22nd July with Renal failure vide CR No:202002621258. The child had been administered number of drugs on the prescription of the doctor (Dr.Diwanchand S/o SitaRam,  ward no. 2, Baddi, Solan, HP 173205)which were analysed in PGIMER Paediatric biochemistry lab for the presence of Diethlyene glycol (DEG) qualitatively using GCMS and confirmed by searching on NIST library (Chromatograms attached).

In PGIMER Chandigarh preliminary assessment , one of the drugs consumed by the child-namedCofset-AT ( Ambroxol hydrochloride, terbutaline Sulphate, Guaiphenesin,Menthol) manufactured by Digital Visionand marketed by Orison Pharmaceuticals 51, industrial area, AmbalaCantt DL5200 Mfg.date 09-19,Exp 08-21 was detected to have Diethylene glycol DFEG (reference : ( For Extraction) K.J.mulligan : No 4042-A procedure to determine Diethylene Glycol (2,2’-oxybisethanol) and ethylene glycol (1,2,ethanediol) in glycerine and selected products , laboratory Information bulletin 12(7), DHHS (1996) chromatogram attached  is in a serious condition and undergoing treatment at PGI ,Chandigarh.

Sukesh Khajuria pleaded that the father of the child is a migrant labourer in Himachal Pradesh and is unable to bear the expenses of the treatment. The Child had suffered renal failure due to consumption of “Cofset-AT” syrup containing the presence of toxic chemical Diethylene glycol manufactured by M/S Digital Vision, 176 MauzaOgli , Nahan Road, Kala-Amb, Disttt.Sirmaur, HP 173205 marketed by M/s Orison Pharmaceuticals, 51, Industrial Estate, Ambala Cantt-133006.

Sukesh Khajuria said that he had earlier highlighted the deaths of infants in Ramnagar area of Udhampur district of J&K in December 2019-January 2020 due to the Diethylene glycol in the ColdBest-PC Syrup manufactured by M/S Digital Vision( An ISO & GMP Certified Co) 176, MauzaOgli, Nahan Road, Kala – Amb,Distt.Sirmour(H.P.)-173030, Marketed by M/s Orison Pharmaceuticals , An ISO 9001:2008 certified company 51, Industrial Estate, Ambala Cantt-133006 and has also requested a Probe into death of children in Udhampur District of JK (UT) and due compensation to the affected families with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The government analyst, regional drugs testing laboratory (RDTL) Chandigarh has furnished his report of test & analysis conducted on the suspected drug i.e. Cold best-pc syrup on form-13 vide no. LSD/RDTL/1758/19-20, DT: 02-03-2020 with the following remarks:

“In the opinion of the undersigned the sample referred to above is not of standard quality as defined in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules there under for the reason given below:The sample does not conforms to claim as per Patent & Proprietary in respect to then Phenylephrine Hydrochloride” Further, the sample has been tested for Diethylene Glycol (DEG)and found positive for the same and content of Diethylene Glycol(DEG) is 34.24%

  The social activist expressed surprise that both these drugs are manufactured and marketed by the same firm which were involved in DEG contaminated cases reported in Punjab,Haryana and Jammu& Kashmir( UT).Sukesh C. Khajuria further wrote that  he had  also written to Hon’ble Chief minister of Punjab Capt.Amarinder Singh on 27-07-2020 drawing his attention toward the death of an infant AnmolSharma,a two year son of Pradeep Kumar ,Labour and resident of Shambu, district Patiala died at Govt. Medical college Hospital Sector-32 Chandigarh  and another child Sarabjeet Singh a five year old son of Avtar Singh a car mechanic of Shambu ,District Patiala is struggling between life and death due to spurious/poisonous syrup manufactured by Digital Vision in Patiala district of Punjab.

He said that according to Xtended Licencing laboratory & legal Node, a database that tracks instances of substandard medicines, there have been seven cases from 2014 to 2019 when drugs manufactured by digital vision were found to be “not of standard quality” (ThePrint.in).

Sukesh C. Khajuria requested that in light of the submissions made above, the State government should bear the expenses of the treatment of the child since the child is the resident of the State of Himachal Pradesh and further initiate firm action under relevant law against the offenders who had been endangering the lives of innocent young children throughout the country. In order to ensure that culprit’s gets exemplary punishment, the special prosecution team would be deputed to vigorously pursue these cases. The properties of those responsible for this illegal and unpardonable act should be confiscated so that it can be served as a deterrent for others in the future.

Sukesh Khajuria also mentioned that Dr.Bavneet Bharati, Prof. of the Pediatrics department, PGI, Chandigarh has also written to State drug controller to take action against such spurious and dangerous drug manufacturers. The PGI doctors after chemical examination have confirmed that the child with renal failure at PGI Chandigarh suffered due to contamination of Syrup Cofset-AT with Diethylene Glycol. Sukesh Khajuria argued that if the Delhi government could give Rs. 1Crore compensation and a government job to the kin of Ankit Sharma, an Intelligence Bureau staffer who was killed in recent Delhi riots, what stops the authorities to give compensation to the families of spurious drug victims. Meanwhile, Khajuria has also communicated the issue to Yogi Adityanath Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr.Justice H.L.Dattu Chairperson NHRC, New Delhi, Dr.V.G.Somani, the Drugs Controller General of India, New Delhi, Ms Preeti Sudan, Secretary Ministry Of health and family welfare, New Delhi.