When medicine meant to cure becomes a cause of death, it is not a tragic accident; it is proof of systemic rot in governance and regulation. It is also blatant corruption. The recent deaths of three children in Rajasthan after consuming contaminated cough syrup under the Chief Minister’s Free Medicine Scheme have shaken the conscience of our state. This was not fate. This was preventable. And the responsibility lies with those who were supposed to ensure medicine safety.

The toxic cough syrup in question, containing Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, was manufactured by Kayson Pharma, a company earlier blacklisted for failing over 40 quality checks. This company has a documented history of producing substandard drugs. Shockingly, it was awarded a fresh government tender by the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation (RMSC), the very agency mandated to safeguard citizens by procuring only verified, quality-assured medicines.

This raises a serious and unavoidable question: what were our regulatory agencies doing? Where was the........

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