Bottled death

Incident in Shahdra occurred days after new law intended to check sale of spurious medications came into effect.

At least 16 people, all young men from the Shahdra area in Lahore, have died after drinking the Tyno cough syrup, that was purchased from the same medical store. Many of those hospitalised are stated to be in a critical condition. It may be noted that cough syrup is quite often used as an intoxicating agent in the absence of alcohol or other drugs of a similar nature. Due to this, reputable pharmacies are reluctant to sell it in larger than normal quantities. But of course, in our cities, where there is little accountability of any form, almost every medication can be bought without a prescription and by anyone. This has led to mishaps in the past as well.

It is ironic that the incident in Shahdra has occurred days after a new law, intended to check the sale and manufacture of spurious medications, came into effect. This latest tragedy is a reminder of the need to implement the law as swiftly and effectively as possible and educate local administrations about its presence. We have, as yet, few details about the incident or the actual cause of death. It needs to be tested and determined whether the liquid itself was toxic or if this was, in fact, a case of massive overdosing by a group of random people desperate to slip into a state of drug-induced comfort. All this will be revealed in the much-awaited report by the health department.



Whatever the case, steps are required to avoid the repetition of such incidents. The lives of young people have been lost and unless laws are implemented and stricter ethics enforced among drug sellers, the frequency of such incidents is only bound to increase. The authorities concerned need to revisit the methods employed for production of such medicines and this situation needs to be urgently reviewed in the wider context. Measures need to be adopted to protect the most marginalised in our society. Such people do not deserve to die from the consumption of an agent which is in fact supposed to make them feel better in the first place. This would be the second major incident in Punjab and the government should work ever so hard to curb such malpractice.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2012.