India testing cough syrup linked to child deaths in West Africa

India is testing samples of cough syrups produced by Maiden Prescribed drugs for exports after the World Well being Group stated its merchandise had been linked to the deaths of dozens of kids in Gambia, the nation’s well being ministry stated on Thursday.

The deaths of 66 kids within the West African nation is a blow to India’s picture as a “pharmacy of the world” that provides medicines to all continents, particularly Africa.

The WHO on Wednesday stated laboratory evaluation of 4 Maiden merchandise – Promethazine Oral Resolution, Kofexmalin Child Cough Syrup, Makoff Child Cough Syrup and Magrip N Chilly Syrup – had confirmed “unacceptable” quantities of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which may be poisonous and result in acute kidney harm.

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Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are utilized in antifreeze and brake fluids and different industrial functions but additionally as a less expensive different in some pharmaceutical merchandise.

India’s well being ministry stated samples of the identical batch manufactured by Maiden for all 4 medicine has been despatched for testing to a federal laboratory and the outcomes would “information additional plan of action in addition to deliver readability on the inputs acquired/to be acquired from WHO.”

It requested the WHO to share its report on “institution of causal relation to dying with the medical merchandise in query.”

The WHO didn’t instantly reply to an emailed request for remark.

Anil Vij, the well being minister of Haryana state the place Maiden has its factories, warned of “strict motion if something is discovered unsuitable” after the exams.

Naresh Kumar Goyal, a Maiden director, instructed Reuters that it heard concerning the deaths solely on Thursday morning and had been looking for out particulars.

“We’re looking for out the state of affairs as a result of it cropped up solely in the present day,” he stated by telephone. “We’re looking for out with the client and all that what has occurred precisely. We aren’t promoting something in India.” He declined to talk additional.

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WHO Director-Common Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus instructed reporters on Wednesday that the U.N. company was investigating the deaths from acute kidney accidents with India’s drug regulator and the drug maker.

The company knowledgeable the Medication Controller Common of India of the deaths late final month after which the regulator launched an investigation with state authorities in tandem with the WHO.

Maiden, which launched its operations in November 1990, manufactured and exported the syrup solely to Gambia, the Indian well being ministry stated. Maiden on its web site says it has two manufacturing vegetation, in Kundli and Panipat, each close to New Delhi in Haryana, and has not too long ago arrange one other one.

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Maiden has an annual manufacturing capability of two.2 million syrup bottles, 600 million capsules, 18 million injections, 300,000 ointment tubes and 1.2 billion tablets.

Maiden on its web site says it sells its merchandise at residence and exports to international locations in Asia, Africa and Latin America, though Goyal stated they weren’t presently promoting in India.

The well being ministry stated importing international locations sometimes check such merchandise earlier than permitting their use.