A recent cluster of child deaths in Madhya Pradesh, India, linked to contaminated cough syrup, has once again exposed critical flaws in India's drug regulatory system. This follows similar tragedies in The Gambia and Uzbekistan earlier in 2023, highlighting a recurring problem with Indian-made medications.

• At least 11 children aged one to six died in Madhya Pradesh after consuming cough syrup containing 48.6% diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent.
• Indian cough syrups tainted with diethylene glycol were linked to the deaths of 70 children in The Gambia and 18 in Uzbekistan in 2023.
• The problem is exacerbated by a fragmented drug market, weak regulatory oversight, and a cultural "obsession" with cough syrups, often prescribed by informal medical practitioners in rural areas without formal training.