Uzbekistan Health Ministry has said at least 18 children in the country have died after allegedly taking a cough syrup manufactured in India. The ministry said that the children with acute respiratory disease consumed Doc-1 Max manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech.
The medicine is promoted as a remedy for cold and flu symptoms on its website. The ministry claimed that ethylene glycol, a hazardous chemical, was present in a batch of syrup. The syrup was brought in from by Quramax Medical LLC, according to the ministry's statement made public on Tuesday.
The syrup and tablets have been withdrawn from all pharmacies in the country. Teams of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO - north zone) and Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority will conduct a joint inquiry.
The WHO issued a warning on October 5, linking four syrups to the deaths in Gambia. following this, Maiden Pharma’s export licence has been suspended.
When news agency ANI reached out to WHO on more details regarding death of the children, it said, “The WHO is in contact with the health authorities in Uzbekistan and is ready to assist in further nvestigations.”
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.
The Uzbek incident comes at the heels of a similar incident where Gambia authorities blamed cough and cold syrups made by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd for the deaths of at least 70 children.
According to the ministry, a toxic substance ethylene glycol was found in a batch of syrups. Also, the syrup was given to children at home without a doctor's prescription-- in doses of 2.5 to 5 ml three to four times a day for 2-7 days, which exceeds the standard dose, the ministry said.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh in the meantime tweeted, "Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action."