NEW DELHI: Amid the controversy over deaths of youngsters in elements of Madhya Pradesh, allegedly on account of consumption of sub-standard cough syrup, Union well being secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Sunday requested states/UTs to make sure strict compliance with Revised Schedule M – up to date Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) — by all drug producers.Srivastava, at a gathering with prime well being officers from all states/UTs, which was additionally attended by the chief of Indian Council for Medical Analysis and Drug Controller Basic of India (DCGI), directed rational use of cough syrups, notably for youngsters, as most coughs are self-limiting and don’t require pharmacological remedy.Well being ministry sources stated the matter had been earlier reviewed by Union well being minister J P Nadda, who had directed that the matter be mentioned with states/UTs to make sure vital motion.Metropolitan Surveillance Unit (MSU), Nagpur, established beneath Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Well being Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), had reported a cluster of circumstances and associated deaths from a block in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh a couple of days in the past.The samples of 19 medicines which had been consumed by the kids have been collected from treating personal practitioners and close by retail shops. Well being ministry stated chemical evaluation to this point signifies that 9 out of 10 samples meet high quality requirements. Nonetheless, considered one of them, viz cough syrup ‘Coldrif’, contained Diethylene Glycol — contaminant recognized to trigger severe kidney damage if utilized in greater proportions — past the permissible restrict. “Cancellation of producing licence of the unit that equipped the particular batch of the drug has been really helpful by CDSCO primarily based on inspection findings. Prison proceedings have additionally been initiated,” the ministry stated.DCGI Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi reiterated the necessity for drug manufacturing items to strictly adjust to Revised Schedule M for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). He famous that sure companies which had utilized for the federal government’s infrastructure improve have been given an extension until December.