The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has initiated a probe into reports of death of 18 children in Uzbekistan from the alleged consumption of a cough syrup manufactured by a Noida-based company.
The Indian Embassy has contacted its counterparts in Uzbekistan and sought details of their probe into the deaths. “We are also providing consular assistance to some linked to Indian firm there,” the MEA said on “cough syrup-death” row. In the centre of the row is Marion Biotech whose Dok-1 Max syrup is reportedly linked to the death. The company has temporarily stopped the production of the syrup, the company’s legal representative said on Thursday.
The Uzbekistan Health Ministry’s has alleged that that the children died after consuming Dok-1 Max.
While Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said further action would be taken based on the inspection of the pharma company, an Uttar Pradesh Government official said that Marion Biotech does not sell Dok-1 Max in India and its only export has been to Uzbekistan.
As part of the health Ministry’s probe, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation members have taken the samples of the cough syrup from the manufacturing premises in Noida and sent to the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory (RDTL) in Chandigarh for testing, Mandaviya said.
The Health Minister said the CDSCO is in touch with the national drug regulator of Uzbekistan.
“Immediately on receipt of information, joint inspection of the NOIDA facility of the manufacturer, Marion Biotech, was carried out by UP Drug Control and CDSCO team and further action as appropriate would be initiated based on the inspection report,” Mandaviya said in a series of tweets.
Marion Biotech is a licensed manufacturer and holds the licence for manufacturing Dok-1 Max syrup and tablet for export purpose granted by the Drugs Controller, Uttar Pradesh, the Health Ministry said in a statement.
The Governments of both countries are looking into the matter, said Hasan Harris, legal representative of the Noida-based Marion Biotech.
“There is no problem from our end and no issue in testing. We have been there for the past 10 years. Once the Government report will come, we will look into it. For now the manufacturing has stopped,” Harris told PTI.
Before Uzbekistan’s claims, there were reports linking the deaths of 70 children in Gambia to cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals earlier this year.
The Drugs Controller General of India claimed the WHO drew a premature link.
Sources said the DCGI has sought more information from the Uzbek regulator regarding the latest allegation. According to the Uzbek Ministry, the chemical ethylene glycol was found in a batch of Dok-1 Max syrup during laboratory tests.