Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/TASHKENT: At least 18 children died in Uzbekistan after consuming cough syrup Doc-1 Max, manufactured by India-based Marion Biotech.
In a statement, the Uzbek health ministry said that the youngsters who died had taken the cough medicine Doc-1 Max, produced by Noida-based Marion Biotech.
The government reported that 18 of 21 children who consumed Doc-1 Max syrup while suffering from a severe respiratory ailment died shortly afterward.
On the company website, Doc-1 Max syrup is recommended for treating cold and flu.
According to Uzbekistan’s health ministry, the lab tests of a batch of syrups found “the presence of ethylene glycol” a toxic substance.
Additionally, it was said that the amount of syrup above the recommended dose for children was administered to the kids without a prescription, either by their parents or on the advice of some pharmacists.
Before being sent to the hospital, it was discovered that the kids had been taking this syrup at home for two to seven days in amounts of 2.5 to 5 ml three to four times per day, exceeding the recommended dosage, according to the health ministry. The Doc-1 Max syrup was used as a cold cure.
According to the ministry statement, Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups had been removed from all pharmacies across the country following the deaths of 18 children. Seven staff have been fired for failing to act quickly and examine the situation and take appropriate action.
India launches probe
India has launched a probe into the matter, and cough syrup manufacturing has been halted at the Noida unit of the pharmaceutical company until the samples are tested.
Teams from Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization are investigating the issue and Uzbekistan was also asked for a report on the casualty assessment, Indian authorities said.
Marion Biotech said that samples of the cough syrup had been collected from its manufacturing unit and were now waiting for the test report.
“The government is conducting an inquiry. We will take action as per their report; for now, the manufacturing has stopped,” said Hasan Raza, Marion Biotech Pharma Company legal head
India-Made Cough Syrup Killed 70 Children in Gambia
Earlier this year, the deaths of 70 children in Gambia were linked to cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals.
In October, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization shut its unit in Sonepat for violation of manufacturing standards.
Prior to this, the WHO had stated that a laboratory examination of Maiden cough syrup had revealed “unacceptable” levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, both of which are poisonous and can cause acute kidney impairment.
Responding to WHO, Drugs Controller General VG Somani, had said that tests on samples of Maiden’s products at government laboratories had “been found to be complying with specifications” and no toxic substance was detected in them.
