Uzbekistan’s health
ministry has said at least 18 children have died after consuming
a medicinal syrup manufactured by Indian drugmaker Marion
Biotech Pvt Ltd.
The ministry said on Wednesday 18 out of 21 children who took the Dok-1
Max syrup while suffering from an acute respiratory disease died
after consuming it. It is marketed on the company’s website as a
treatment for cold and flu symptoms.
A batch of the syrup contained ethylene glycol, which the
ministry said was a toxic substance. The syrup was imported into
Uzbekistan by Quramax Medical LLC, the ministry said in its
statement released on Tuesday.
It also said the syrup was given to children at home without
a doctor’s prescription, either by their parents or on the
advice of pharmacists, with doses that exceeded the standard
dose for children.
It was not immediately clear whether all or any of the
children had consumed the suspect batch or had consumed more
than the standard dose, or both.
Marion Biotech, Quramax Medical and India’s health ministry did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
An Indian government source said the health ministry was looking into the matter.
READ MORE: Indonesia revokes firms’ fever syrup licences amid inquiry into 150 deaths
Withdrawing tablets, syrups
India had on Tuesday launched an inspection of some drug
factories across the country to ensure high quality standards.
The Uzbek incident follows a similar one in Gambia, where
the deaths of at least 70 children were blamed on cough and cold
syrups made by New Delhi based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Both
India’s government and the company have denied the medicines
were at fault.
India is known as the “pharmacy of the world” and its
pharmaceuticals exports have more than doubled over the past
decade to $24.5 billion in the past fiscal year.
The Uzbek health ministry said it had dismissed seven
employees for negligence for not analysing the deaths in a
timely manner and not taking the necessary measures.
It said it
had taken disciplinary measures against some “specialists”,
without specifying what role the specialists had.
It is also withdrawing the Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups from all pharmacies.
READ MORE: Gambia shocked as India absolves pharma firm ‘linked’ to children deaths
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