IMA Condemns Arrest of Dr Praveen Soni in Cough Syrup Tragedy
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly condemned the arrest of Dr Praveen Soni, a physician who prescribed the now-banned Coldrif cough syrup linked to the deaths of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh. The IMA has expressed grave concerns over the handling of the incident and the incompetence of the drug regulatory system in the country.
The IMA has described the tragedy as a result of legal illiteracy among officials and police, with the arrest of Dr Soni seen as an attempt to divert attention from the failures of regulatory bodies and the pharmaceutical company involved. The IMA has demanded immediate action against the actual culprits and adequate compensation for the affected families and Dr Soni, who they consider a victim of defamation.
The IMA has noted that pharmaceutical-grade glycerin and propylene glycol required for manufacturing cough syrups are expensive, and toxic substances such as industrial-grade DEG and ethylene glycol (EG) are cheaper and indistinguishable, posing a risk if quality control fails. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been criticized for failing to monitor the concentration of DEG in the cough syrup.
Many doctors have come out in support of Dr Soni, stating that he should not be held responsible for the quality and approval of the syrup, which is the responsibility of government and drug authorities. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, and directed various health authorities to investigate the supply of spurious drugs.
The IMA's statement highlights the urgent need for reform in the drug regulatory system to prevent such tragedies in the future. The focus should be on strengthening quality control measures and ensuring the accountability of pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies. The arrest of Dr Soni has raised questions about the fairness of the investigation and the need for a more thorough probe into the incident.
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