BHOPAL: Indian health authorities have found unidentified quality issues in at least one of the five samples of a cough syrup linked to the deaths of at least six children in Cameroon, Western media reported on Monday.
Riemann Labs is one of three Indian drug manufactures whose cough syrups have been linked to the deaths of at least 141 children in Cameroon, Gambia and Uzbekistan last year.
The development has raised questions about the poor quality of exports from India regarding life-saving drugs at low prices to countries that most need them.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in July picked up a sample of Indian made Naturcold syrup from Cameroon, contained as much 28.6 percent of the toxin of diethylene glycol, compared with an acceptable limit of no more than 0.10 percent.
Indian authorities suspend Riemann’s drug production
Indian authorities had suspended Riemann’s production soon after the WHO warning, citing violations of quality manufacturing standards.
Riemann Labs and the drug regulator of India’s Madhya Pradesh state did not respond to queries from media about the development.
In June this year Indian state and federal regulators during an inspection of Riemann’s factory had found violations including improper ventilation.
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Reports quoting one of the sources said Riemann had told the state regulator that it was carrying out repairs to resume its drug production.
The discoveries underscore the pressing need for stringent quality control and regulatory oversight within the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the safety of products intended for public consumption.
