Manufacturing of cough syrup linked to deaths in Uzbekistan HALTED, probe initiated

Cough syrup-linked deaths in Uzbekistan: The Health Ministry of Uzbekistan earlier claimed that the 18 children had consumed cough syrup, 'Doc-1 Max', manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech.

New Delhi: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Thursday said that it has initiated a probe in connection with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to a cough syrup manufactured by an Indian firm. Official sources said the Drugs Controller General of India has sought more information regarding the incident from the Uzbek regulator. An inspection jointly conducted by the central drugs regulatory team of the north zone and the state drugs regulatory team was also taken during which samples were lifted.

The Health Ministry of Uzbekistan earlier claimed that the 18 children had consumed cough syrup, 'Doc-1 Max', manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech.

Hasan Harris, the legal representative of Marion Biotech, said the governments of both countries are looking into the matter and inquiring. "There is no problem from our 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. For now, the manufacturing has stopped," Harris said.

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, Marion Biotech Pharma Company legal head on syrup deaths in Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/UyOslJV7E2

— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2022

According to the Health Ministry of Uzbekistan, the chemical ethylene glycol was found in a batch of syrup during laboratory tests. Earlier this year, the death of 70 children in Gambia was linked to cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals following which the Haryana-based unit was shut down for violation of manufacturing standards.

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

The death of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly after having cough syrup manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical firm has turned into a political row on Thursday after the Congress said that the Narendra Modi government should stop boasting about India being a pharmacy giant to the world. The BJP hit out at Congress and said, "blinded in its hate for PM Modi, Congress continues to deride India and its entrepreneurial spirit."

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh in a tweet linked the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia to the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan. "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 and take the strictest action," said Ramesh.

Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action. — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 29, 2022

BJP leader Amit Malviya responded to the Congress leader`s remark and said the deaths of the children in Gambia had nothing to do with the Indian cough syrup.

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… https://t.co/BKVQw5qskI — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 29, 2022

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...," Malviya tweeted.