Probe Launched Into Cough Syrup Linked To Uzbekistan Deaths, Production Halted

NEW DELHI: On Thursday, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) here said that an investigation has been launched in connection with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly resulting from a cough syrup manufactured by a firm in India.

Official sources informed that more information has been sought regarding the incident from the Uzbek regulator by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). A joint team of central drugs regulatory of the north zone and the state drugs regulatory authorities conducted an inspection in the manufacturing unit, during which samples were also taken.

It was earlier claimed by the Health Ministry of Uzbekistan that the 18 children who perished had allegedly consumed 'Doc-1 Max' cough syrup, which is said to be manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech.

The legal representative of Marion Biotech, Hasan Raza, said the governments of the two countries are inquiring into the matter. Raza denied that there is a problem at their end and no issue in testing. "We have been there for the past ten years. Once the government report will come, we will look into it," he said. However, Harris said that the manufacturing has been stopped.

"We regret deaths, govt is conducting enquiry. We'll take action as per report. Samples were collected. Manufacturing of that product has been halted as of now & other processes are underway," Hasan Raza, tweeted on syrup deaths in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan's Health Ministry informed that during laboratory tests, the chemical ethylene glycol has been found in a batch of the syrup named.

Earlier this year, cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals were linked to the death of 70 children in Gambia, following which the Haryana-based unit was found to have violated manufacturing standards and shut down by the govt.

However, when the samples were later tested in a government laboratory in India, they were found to be complying with specifications.

The death of Uzbekistan's 18 children allegedly caused by an Indian pharmaceutical firm's cough syrup, turned into a political row on Thursday after the Congress commented that the Narendra Modi government's boast about India being a pharmacy giant to the world should stop. The BJP hit back at the Congress, saying, "Blinded in its hate for PM Modi, Congress continues to deride India and its entrepreneurial spirit."

Taking to Twitter, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh in a post linked the deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan to the death of 70 kids in Gambia. "Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First, it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia and now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take the strictest action," tweeted Ramesh.

In his turn, BJP leader Amit Malviya took on the Congress leader`s remark and replied that the deaths of the children in Gambia had nothing to do with the Indian cough syrup

Malviya 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. But blinded in its hate for Modi, Congress continues to deride India and its entrepreneurial spirit. Shameful..."

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