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

World Health 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 Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma.

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

“The CDSCO has knowledgeable WHO that not one of the contaminated medicines have been exported from India and there may be presently no proof of unlawful export,” it mentioned including that the affected merchandise are oral liquid medicines containing lively elements generally used to alleviate signs of the widespread 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 Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India reported presence of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in no less than three oral liquid medicines.

This adopted info 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 direct halt to manufacturing at implicated manufacturing websites and have suspended product authorizations. In addition, a recall of the contaminated merchandise has been initiated by related state authorities.

“WHO continues to collaborate carefully with Indian well being authorities to observe the scenario, establish the supply of the contamination and mitigate any potential public well being dangers,” it mentioned.

The company additional mentioned 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 lead to critical damage or demise. Toxic results can embrace stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhoea, incapacity to go urine, headache, altered psychological state and acute kidney damage which can result in demise. To defend 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 National Regulatory Authorities or National Pharmacovigilance Centre.

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