Uzbekistan Children Deaths: India has launched a probe into the matter (Representational)
The Centre today said it is in touch with Uzbekistan after it alleged 18 children in the country died after taking an Indian-made cough syrup. An investigation is in progress and the manufacturing of the cough syrup has been stopped.
Here are the top 10 updates on Uzbekistan children deaths
The health ministry of Uzbekistan, in a statement, said that the children who died had consumed cough syrup Doc-1 Max - manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech. Laboratory tests found "the presence of ethylene glycol", a toxic substance. Doc-1 Max syrups have been withdrawn from all pharmacies, Uzbekistan said.
The Uzbek authorities have started legal action against some people, "including the local representative of the company there… we are extending necessary consular assistance to those individuals," said foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. Uzbekistan, he said, has not formally contacted the Indian government about the deaths.
The syrup was apparently given to children at home without a doctor's prescription, on the advice of pharmacists, with doses that exceeded the standard dose for children. It was found that the children, before being hospitalised, took this syrup at home for 2-7 days, in doses of 2.5 to 5 ml three to four times a day, the ministry said. The deaths apparently took place over a period of two months.
A joint inquiry is being conducted by the teams of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO - north zone) and Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said further action would be taken on basis of the inspection.
Sources also said manufacturing company Marion Biotech has been asked to submit an undertaking that the cough syrup was not supplied in any part of India. Samples of other drugs it manufactures will be picked up for random testing.
Marion Biotech said samples of the cough syrup have been collected from its manufacturing unit and that they are now waiting for the test report. "Our drugs are not at fault, we are waiting for the testing to be completed," said Hasan Harris, Legal Representative of Marion Biotech.
Earlier this year, deaths of 70 children in Gambia were linked to cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals, following which, its unit was shut by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for violation of manufacturing standards.
After the World Health Organisation (WHO) had issued a statement over the deaths in Gambia, Drugs Controller General, VG Somani, earlier this month 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.
"The onus in such a case lies with the importing country and the manufacturing company. When drugs are produced for exports, the standards of the country it is being exported to are followed," Rajesh Agarwal, the former director of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority told NDTV.
The issue has spiralled into a political controversy. "Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action," Congress's Jairam Ramesh tweeted. "The death of children in Gambia had nothing to do with the consumption of cough syrup made in India. That has been clarified by the Gambian authorities and DCGI, both," shot back the BJP's Amit Malviya.
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