The probe is on from the Government for four Cough Syrups, that are manufactured by a Pharmaceutical Company based in Haryana, after the World Health Organisation or WHO suspects that it could be connected to the deaths of 66 children in the Gambia.
India Probes Four Cough Syrups
Reportedly, WHO had alerted the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) about the cough syrups, on September 29. DCGI took the matter on an immediate basis, discussed the issue with Haryana authority and started a detailed investigation, mentioned NDTV quoting the source.
As per the sources, the investigation is on M/s Maiden Pharmaceutical Limited in Sonipat, Haryana. It is further reported that so far they have known about the medicines being only exported to the Gambia and not any other Country. The administrative office of this firm located in Pitampura, Delhi was closed down this Morning and an official statement from the company towards the allegations is still pending.
WHO has also warned about the cough syrups being exported outside the Gambia and has alerted about the “possible” global exposure.
“Exact one-to-one causal relation of death has not yet been provided by WHO”, mentioned NDTV quoting the sources. Further added, “WHO is yet to share the details and photos of labels confirming the manufacturer of the products.” and neither has told about when these deaths took place.
“Samples of the four cough syrups will now be tested in central and regional laboratories and results will come in within two days”, said sources. Further added, “that as per protocol, any drug exported from India is tested by the recipient country. The question is why the contamination was not detected during testing in the Gambia.”
Lastly added, “WHO has not informed whether the drugs were used in the west African country without testing”.
WHO’s Alert For Four India-Made Cough Syrups Over Child Deaths In Gambia
As per the alert from WHO, the names of those four Cough Syrups are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
“To date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products”, reads the alert. Further added that the tested samples in the laboratory “confirm that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants”
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Alert added, these additional substances are toxic to humans and are deadly. Furth told, that these toxic effects “can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death”
