WHO stands by action of issuing alert against Maiden Pharma cough syrup

Asserts that testing done in labs in Ghana and Switzerland confirmed excess levels of contaminated syrups that are "dangerous and should not be in any medicine, ever"

As the issue of contaminated cough syrups linked by the WHO to children deaths in Gambia escalates with the Indian regulator clearing the cough syrup samples after testing, the global agency says it stands by the action it took--that of issuing an alert.

Responding to queries sent by Business Standard, WHO spokesperson said: "When many children die of mysterious sickness, it’s a tragedy (and) that means WHO had to act quickly." Justifying its quick action, the WHO further added that "WHO-contracted laboratories in Ghana and Switzerland tested the suspected cough syrups products from The Gambia and confirmed excess levels of ethyleneglycol and diethyleneglycol. These contaminated syrups are dangerous and should not be in any medicine, ever."

Therefore, the spokesperson said that WHO immediately shared the confirmatory results with authorities in Gambia and India. "WHO immediately shared the confirmatory results with authorities in The Gambia, and India, as well as the manufacturer of the suspected products-Maiden Pharmaceuticals."

"WHO’s mandate is to issue global alerts about potential risks. WHO stands by the action taken," the agency said.

On September 29, the global health agency informed the Indian drug controller about the deaths in the African nation and the suspected link to Maiden Pharma. The Indian regulator's response was swift and it promptly took up the matter with the Haryana State Regulatory Authority, under whose jurisdiction the drug manufacturing unit of Maiden Pharmaceutical, Sonepat, is located.