Dangerous cough syrups from India: Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry issues warning

Tengrinews.kz – The Kazakh Ministry of Health has issued a warning to citizens regarding toxic cough syrups produced in India.

According to the Committee for Medical and Pharmaceutical Control, the World Health Organization (WHO) has detected a toxic substance — diethylene glycol — in three Indian-made cough syrups: COLDRIF, Respifresh TR, and ReLife, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Rednex Remedies, and Shape Pharma.

The National Center for Expertise of Medicines and Medical Devices (NCEMMD) confirmed that these syrups are not registered in Kazakhstan and do not have certificates of conformity.

WHO warns that consuming these medicines poses a serious health risk, particularly for children. Diethylene glycol is a toxic chemical compound that can cause severe poisoning and acute kidney failure when ingested.

The Health Ministry urges citizens to exercise caution when purchasing medicines, to buy only from licensed pharmacies, and to avoid using the mentioned syrups.

Earlier, reports from India revealed that 17 children under five had died and 11 others remained in critical condition after consuming the COLDRIF syrup. All the affected children suffered from kidney failure and severe brain damage caused by diethylene glycol poisoning.