At the very least 18 kids have died in Uzbekistan after consuming a medicinal syrup manufactured by Indian drugmaker Marion Biotech, in keeping with the Uzbek Well being Ministry.
The ministry mentioned 18 out of 21 kids who took the Doc-1 Max syrup whereas affected by an acute respiratory illness died after consuming it. It’s marketed on the corporate’s web site as a therapy for chilly and flu signs.
A batch of the syrup contained ethylene glycol, which the ministry mentioned was a poisonous substance. The syrup was imported into Uzbekistan by Quramax Medical, the ministry mentioned in its assertion launched Tuesday.
It additionally mentioned the syrup was given to kids at dwelling and not using a physician’s prescription, both by their dad and mom or on the recommendation of pharmacists, with doses that exceeded the usual dose for youngsters.
It was not instantly clear whether or not all or any of the kids had consumed the suspect batch or had consumed greater than the usual dose, or each.
Marion Biotech, Quramax Medical and India’s Well being Ministry didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request in search of remark. An Indian authorities supply instructed Reuters the Well being Ministry was trying into the matter.
India had on Tuesday launched an inspection of some drug factories throughout the nation to make sure top quality requirements.
The Uzbek incident follows the same one in The Gambia, the place the deaths of at the least 70 kids have been blamed on cough and chilly syrups made by New Delhi-based Maiden Prescription drugs. Each India’s authorities and the corporate have denied the medicines have been at fault.
India is named the “pharmacy of the world” and its prescription drugs exports have greater than doubled over the previous decade to $24.5 billion prior to now fiscal 12 months.
The Uzbek Well being Ministry mentioned it had dismissed seven workers for negligence for not analyzing the deaths in a well timed method and never taking the mandatory measures. It mentioned it had taken disciplinary measures in opposition to some “specialists,” with out specifying what position the specialists had.
It is usually withdrawing the Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups from all pharmacies.
