After the Gambia, the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan has been linked with cough syrup manufactured in India. On this news, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiated an inspection on An inspection done by the country’s apex drug regulator and UP state drug controller. Also, they took samples from its manufacturing unit in Noida.
Actions taken by Indian Authorities after Deaths in Uzbekistan
Even the Union Health Minister tweeted that further appropriate action will be taken on the reports of samples and inspection. The sample is sent for testing to the regional drug testing laboratory in Chandigarh. Moreover, he stated that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has been in daily contact with the national drug regulator of Uzbekistan since December 27.”
The statement further says that as per preliminary lab studies, there is a presence of ethylene glycol in the specific batch of the syrup. But, the medicine was taken with a prescription. Furthermore, the high dose impacted children.
Similar cases of deaths linked to cough syrup in Gambia
It is similar to the incident in the Gambia. Nearly 21 children in Uzbekistan were brought to hospitals. They were brought with complaints of kidney damage and failure and had to undergo dialysis. Also, even in the case of Gambia where 70 children’s death was reported, four India-manufactured syrups showed the presence of ethylene glycol too.
The select committee of the Gambian national assembly claimed that the Indian company was culpable and that legal action should be taken. However, India maintains that no data was received from the Gambia or the World Health Organization. So, there is no data to create a relationship between the deaths and consumption of syrups. Even the investigation showed no traces of ethylene or di-ethylene glycol in control samples. Those samples were preserved by the Indian manufacturer.
Summing up,
The Indian authorities are diligently inspecting and investigating the cases of deaths in Uzbekistan. The samples are taken from the manufacturing unit of the cough syrup in Noida for analysis. The ministry says that it would take accurate action on the incident in Uzbekistan.
