Paediatrician Seeks Apology Over ORSL Renaming
Addressing a virtual conference on Wednesday, Dr Santosh said there is still confusion among consumers.
Hyderabad:Hyderabad‑based paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh has demanded that companies manufacturing ORSL drinks, now renamed as ERZL electrolyte drinks, issue an unconditional public apology to families. She also said the products should be rebranded clearly to remove confusion and state that such drinks are not meant for children.
Addressing a virtual conference on Wednesday, Dr Santosh said there is still confusion among consumers. She pointed out that medical stores continue to sell ERZL over the counter, as the product has been reintroduced with minimal changes in packaging and branding, which may mislead buyers.
She urged the government to ensure better coordination between regulatory bodies such as the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. She also called for restrictions on the sale of non‑ORS drinks in pharmacies.
Dr Santosh stressed that diarrhoea remains a major cause of child deaths, claiming 4.5 lakh to 5.5 lakh lives globally every year, including around 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh in India, making it the third leading cause of death among children under five.
