WHO issues medical product alert on three contaminated oral liquid medicines in India

World Well being Organisation (WHO) has issued medical product alert on three contaminated oral liquid medicines recognized in India and reported to WHO on October 8, 2025. The contaminated oral liquid medicines have been recognized to be particular batches of COLDRIF, Respifresh TR and ReLife, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Prescribed drugs, and Form Pharma.

The U.N. company stated that the Indian Nationwide Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) has been suggested to contemplate focused market surveillance, with specific consideration to casual and unregulated provide chains the place merchandise might flow into undetected. NRAs are additionally suggested to fastidiously consider the dangers related to any oral liquid medicines originating from the identical manufacturing websites — significantly these produced since December 2024.

“The CDSCO has knowledgeable WHO that not one of the contaminated medicines have been exported from India and there’s at present no proof of unlawful export,” it stated including that the affected merchandise are oral liquid medicines containing lively elements generally used to alleviate signs of the frequent chilly, flu, or cough.

Giving particulars in regards to the syrups WHO maintained that the merchandise recognized on this alert are thought of substandard as they fail to fulfill their high quality requirements and their specs.

WHO in its assertion famous that on October 8, 2025 the Central Medication Normal Management Group (CDSCO) of India reported presence of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in at the least three oral liquid medicines.

This adopted data recognized by WHO on September 30, 2025 of localized clusters of acute sickness and little one fatalities in India. CDSCO knowledgeable WHO that the contaminated merchandise have been reportedly consumed by the affected youngsters.

CDSCO has confirmed that related State authorities have ordered a right away halt to manufacturing at implicated manufacturing websites and have suspended product authorizations. As well as, a recall of the contaminated merchandise has been initiated by related state authorities.

“WHO continues to collaborate intently with Indian well being authorities to watch the scenario, determine the supply of the contamination and mitigate any potential public well being dangers,” it stated.

The company additional stated that contaminated merchandise pose vital dangers to sufferers and might trigger extreme and probably life-threatening sickness.

Diethylene glycol is poisonous to people when consumed and might show deadly. The contaminated oral liquid medicines referenced on this alert are unsafe and their use, particularly in youngsters, might end in critical damage or loss of life. Poisonous results can embody belly ache, vomiting, diarrhoea, lack of ability to go urine, headache, altered psychological state and acute kidney damage which can result in loss of life. To guard sufferers, it’s important to detect and take away these contaminated merchandise from circulation.

It has additionally suggested health-care professionals, regulatory authorities and the general public to report the detection of those substandard merchandise and any incident of hostile results, or lack of anticipated results to their Nationwide Regulatory Authorities or Nationwide Pharmacovigilance Centre.

“We advises elevated surveillance and diligence throughout the provide chains of nations and areas prone to be affected by these substandard merchandise. Elevated surveillance of the casual/unregulated market can be suggested,” it stated including that each one medical merchandise have to be obtained from licensed/licensed suppliers and that any details about the manufacture or provide of those merchandise could be shared to WHO by way of rapidalert@who.int.