Govt awaits proof on cough syrup-Gambia deaths link

The factory of Maiden Pharmaceuticals in Sonepat, Haryana. Pic/PTI

India is awaiting more information from the World Health Organization on any links between an Indian-made cough syrup and the deaths of dozens of children in Gambia, two Indian officials said on Thursday. The death of 66 children in the West African country is a blow to India's image as a "pharmacy of the world" that supplies medicines to all continents, especially Africa. New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals made the cough syrup, the WHO said.

"Urgent investigation in the matter has been already taken up...," said one of two staff members who spoke to Reuters on behalf of the health ministry, but did not want to be identified. "While all required steps will be taken in the matter", India was awaiting a report establishing "causal relation to death with the medical products in question" and other details from the WHO.

Also Read: WHO alert for four Indian cough syrups as 66 children die in Gambia

Maiden director Naresh Kumar Goyal told Reuters it heard about the deaths only on Thursday morning. "We are trying to find out the situation because it cropped up only today," he said by phone. "We are trying to find out with the buyer and all that what has happened exactly. We are not selling anything in India." The WHO said it informed the Drugs Controller General of India of the deaths late last month after which the regulator launched a probe, the two sources said.

The WHO said laboratory analysis of Maiden cough syrup had confirmed "unacceptable" amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic and lead to acute kidney injury. Maiden, which launched its operations in November 1990, manufactured and exported the syrup only to Gambia, the Indian ministry sources said. Meanwhile, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij told ANI that the Centre has sent samples to the Central Drug Laboratory, Kolkata.

66
No of kids who have died from the syrup

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