Indian-made syrup causes 18 deaths in Uzbekistan
Indian-made syrup causes 18 deaths in Uzbekistan. According to Uzbekistan Health ministry, at least 18 country residents have died as a presult of allegedly ingesting cough medication made in India.
In a statement, the Uzbek health ministry revealed that the youngsters who died had taken the cough medicine Doc-1 Max, which is produced by Noida-based Marion Biotech.
India has opened an investigation into the problem, and the pharmaceutical company’s Noida facility has stopped producing cough syrup while test samples are being taken.
The samples have been transferred to Chandigarh’s Regional Drug Testing Laboratory for analysis, according to Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and the government will take appropriate action “initiate further action based on the inspection report.”
Mr Mandaviya said the Centre is in touch with Uzbekistan since December 27.
According to the Uzbekistan’s health ministry, the laboratory tests of a batch of syrups found “the presence of ethylene glycol”, a toxic substance.
Additionally, it claimed that without a doctor’s prescription, either by the children’s parents or on the advice of pharmacists, the syrup was administered to kids at home at amounts that were higher than those recommended for kids.
According to the ministry, it was discovered that the kids had been taking this syrup in excess of the recommended dose for 2 to 7 days at home, in doses of 2.5 to 5 ml three to four times per day, before being sent to the hospital.
The parents used the syrup as a cold treatment.
According to the statement, Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups have been removed from sale in all pharmacies across the nation following the deaths of 18 children, and seven staff have been let go for failing to act quickly enough to analyse the problem and take appropriate action.
A joint inquiry is being conducted by the teams of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO – north zone) and Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority.
Uzbekistan was also asked for a report on the casualty assessment.
From its manufacturing facility, Marion Biotech said samples of the cough syrup have been obtained, and they are currently awaiting the test results.
“The government is conducting an inquiry. We will take action as per their report, for now, the manufacturing has stopped,” said Hasan Raza, the company’s legal head.
India-made cough syrups have been the subject of scrutiny twice in the past year.
Cough medications made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, based in Haryana, were blamed for the deaths of 70 children in the Gambia earlier this year.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization had closed its Sonepat facility in October due to a manufacturing standard infraction.
Prior to this, the WHO had stated that a laboratory examination of Maiden cough syrup had revealed “unacceptable” amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, both of which are poisonous and can cause acute kidney impairment.
In response to the WHO, the Drugs Controller General, VG Somani, stated that testing conducted at government laboratories on samples of Maiden’s products had “been found to be complying with specifications” and that no harmful chemical had been found in them.
https://www.theasianmirror.com/news/20812/india-halts-cough-syrup-manufacturing-company/
