CHENNAI: Pharmaceutical units across the State will come under the stringent scanner, Health Minister Ma Subramanian told the Assembly on Friday, highlighting how the State government formed special teams to conduct inspections in all drug manufacturers, apart from Coldrif, which has been shut down for producing a toxic composition.
The minister's assurance comes in the backdrop of the death of 25 children in Madhya Pradesh after taking Coldrif syrup manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals.
Speaking on a call of attention motion in the State assembly on Friday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian said that of the 397 pharmaceutical companies (including Sresan), inspections were carried out in 50 firms involved during the last week.
"Measures are being taken to conduct similar inspections in 52 companies in the coming days. Special teams have been formed to monitor the drug manufacturers in future continuously," he said.
He informed the Assembly that the Madhya Pradesh government sent an email on October 1 informing of the death of a child in the state on September 4 after consuming Coldrif. Even though the alert was issued 25 days after the death, within 30 minutes after receiving the mail, a senior drug inspector inspected Sresan.
"On the same day, the Tamil Nadu government banned Coldrif across the State and informed the Odisha and Puducherry governments, as the syrup supply was supposed to be distributed to those states the next day," he said.