Introduction

In October last year, news broke out about a tragedy that unfolded in the African country of Gambia. More than 60 children had died of acute kidney failure. The WHO began an investigation and said that the deaths might have been linked to contaminated medicines. In response, Indian authorities initially tried to argue that finding the link between these cough syrups and the deaths was premature. But the WHO had conducted tests and it doubled down on its stand that these were contaminated syrups. Two months later, in fact next week itself, the health ministry of India is organising a two day chinton shiver. It will explore ways to build trust on Indian drugs.