Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee in The Gambia has called for the prosecution of the Indian manufacturer of cough syrups being linked to the deaths of at least 70 children in the country in October.
After weeks of investigation, the panel recommended authorities take tough measures against the drug maker, including a ban on its products in the country and legal action against the company, reported the BBC. The committee said that it was “convinced that Maiden Pharmaceuticals [is] culpable and should be held accountable for exporting the contaminated medicines”.
It said that the findings of the recent investigation were similar to previous reports, which indicated that products: Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Promethazine Oral Solution, Makoff Baby Cough Syrups, and Magrip N Cold Syrup were contaminated with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol – chemicals toxic to humans and could be fatal if consumed. However, the panel added that the exact scientific cause of the children’s deaths was still being investigated.
The committee also asked the country’s Medicine Control Agency to ensure all medicines imported into the country were properly registered and with the conduction of background checks on manufacturers – including visits to their facilities. The report also revealed flaws in the country’s healthcare system and urged the government to strengthen it while improving the quality of equipment and medicines provided to hospitals.
The tragic occurrence was linked to Indian-made cough syrups
In October, at least 70 children died in The Gambia in a tragic occurrence that was linked to Indian-made cough syrups. The incident raised concerns about effective regulation of the manufacture and trade in medicines.
Following reports from The Gambia of children diagnosed with serious kidney problems, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert over four cough-syrup products of Maiden Pharmaceuticals, saying they could be linked to acute kidney damage. The WHO said that laboratory analysis of the syrups found that they contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.
However, the Indian drug company denied the allegations, with the country’s government labs adopting the stance that their tests on the syrups revealed them to be “complying with specifications.” An Indian official said last week that the WHO was “presumptuous” in blaming the syrups made in the country, said BBC.
