Jaipur, Oct 2 (NationPress) The Rajasthan Medical and Health Department has commenced suspension actions against a doctor and a pharmacist at Hathideh PHC located in Sikar district for having prescribed a banned cough syrup to a minor.

However, officials have clarified that in the recent fatalities of two children in Bharatpur and Sikar, the dextromethorphan syrup had not been prescribed by medical professionals.

State government representatives stated that the Medical and Health Department has taken a serious stance on complaints regarding the quality of cough syrup distributed under the state's free medicine initiative.

In response to recent reports, officials confirmed that the deaths of two children from Bharatpur and Sikar did not involve prescriptions of dextromethorphan syrup by doctors. Nevertheless, actions have been initiated to suspend a doctor and pharmacist at a separate unit in Hathideh PHC in Sikar district for prescribing a banned cough syrup to a child.

Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar had mandated an immediate investigation following reports of child fatalities allegedly linked to cough syrup consumption.

Subsequently, the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) prohibited the use and distribution of the specified cough syrup and established a three-member committee for investigation. Drug samples have been dispatched to the State Drug Testing Laboratory.

Officials, in the meantime, dismissed any link between syrup and the reported deaths on Thursday. They noted that a 30-year-old named Monu Joshi from Kalsada, Bharatpur, had visited the Kalsada CHC on September 25 with symptoms of cough, cold, and fever.

The doctor prescribed Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide syrup along with other medications. Later, Monu Joshi administered this syrup to his three-year-old son, Gagan, without consulting a doctor when the child exhibited signs of cold and pneumonia.

As Gagan’s health deteriorated, he was taken to Dr. Ashok Jain in Mahua, who referred him to JK Lon Hospital in Jaipur due to the severity of his condition.

Gagan was admitted at 2 p.m. on September 25 and, after a period of improvement, was released on September 27.

In a related case regarding news published on October 1 about three siblings consuming cough syrup with one fatality, the facts indicate that on September 18, Nahni, 50, visited the sub-centre at Malah for a check-up and received PCM medicine available at the sub-centre.

Samrat, the child reported deceased, already had pneumonia and had been referred from Bharatpur to Jaipur.

Samrat passed away on September 22.

Concerning the death of Nityansh, son of Mahesh Kumar Sharma from Khori village in Sikar, the child was examined at CHC in Chirana, Jhunjhunu, on July 7 with symptoms of fever and cold. The prescription did not mention dextromethorphan syrup.

His mother, Khushboo Sharma, reported that on September 28 at about 9 p.m., the child developed a mild cough. She administered 5 ml of dextromethorphan syrup that she already had at home.

On September 29 at 2 a.m., after drinking water and going to sleep, he appeared fine. However, upon waking at 5 a.m., the child was discovered unconscious. He was rushed to Government Shri Kalyan Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Thus, in both the Bharatpur and Sikar situations, dextromethorphan syrup was not prescribed by medical professionals.

Dr. Ravi Prakash Sharma, Director of Public Health, emphasized that doctors had not prescribed dextromethorphan syrup in these tragic cases, and according to protocol, it is not recommended for children.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, suspensions of Dr. Palak and pharmacist Pappu Soni at Hathideh PHC were initiated after it was determined they had prescribed the syrup against established guidelines.

The department has sent an advisory to all physicians, urging strict adherence to prescription protocols, responsible dispensing of prescription-only medications, and prevention of patient consumption of drugs without medical consultation.