Cough syrup maker linked to Uzbekistan deaths halts production; samples of Dok-1 Max sent for analysis
According to the ministry, chemical ethylene glycol was found in a batch of syrup during laboratory tests
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Noida-based Marion Biotech's Dok-1 Max anti-cold medicine under scanner after the Central Asian nation blames it for 18 deaths
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WHO, however, said samples tested in Ghana and Switzerland were found to be contaminated
A parliamentary committee in The Gambia has recommended prosecution of an Indian manufacturer of cough syrups suspected of causing the deaths of at least 70 children in the West African country
Health ministry sources say no immediate plan to allow plant to re-open, it was closed for non-compliance with GMP, not for contamination issues
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"
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Indian Health ministry sources say the Haryana-based drug maker is currently being probed for lapses in good manufacturing practices
Swaminathan was speaking to reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) here
Chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Soumya Swaminathan on Thursday said the death of children in Gambia, potentially linked to four Indian-made cough syrups, was a serious issue. Swaminathan was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) here. A WHO report has linked the death of 66 children in Gambia to four Indian-made cough syrups. "Certainly, the government is in touch with WHO as WHO actually provided the report based on the investigation which was done to prove that it was because of the diethylene glycol contamination. It is a very serious issue and it has to be taken very seriously," said Swaminathan. In India there are central as well as state-level drug regulators and there is a need to harmonize their operations, she said. "There are no mechanisms where regulators of different states can actually work together, do the inspections on each other's products," .
Pharma industry insiders claimed that most contamination-related problems arise due to solvents
Nigeria has reportedly circulated the alert across all professional bodies, health care providers and supply chain associates
According to the media reports, Karnataka has directed all drugmakers to test samples of glycerine and propylene glycol and submit a report within seven days.
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Dr S. Jaishankar spoke to his Gambian counterpart Dr. Mamadou Tangara and conveyed condolences on the deaths of young children allegedly linked to the contaminated cough syrups produced in India
Centre forms panel to analyse causal relation between deaths and cough syrups