66 children die in Gambia, Indian pharmaceutical company suspends production
India has announced the suspension of all operations related to the production of the medicine of the manufacturer Maiden Pharmaceutical after the death of 66 children after drinking the cough syrup of the Indian pharmaceutical company. Anil Vij, Health Minister of the Haryana State Government of the country, confirmed this information to the news agency Reuters.
The Health Minister told Reuters that the Haryana branch of India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the state's Food and Drug Control Authority had launched an investigation into Maiden Pharmaceuticals after receiving instructions from the central government in Delhi. The investigation found 12 irregularities related to the production of Maiden Pharmaceuticals' drugs by the two companies.
CDSCO and the state government's Food and Drug Regulatory Authority have visited Maiden's main factory in Haryana four times this month. They say the company was found to be manufacturing and testing drugs in violation of regulations.
Anil Vij said, on Tuesday (October 11) after receiving the reports of the two companies, all production related activities of Maiden Pharmaceuticals have been banned and the company authorities have also been informed about the matter.
However, Maiden executive Naresh Kumar Goyal refused to comment. However, Naresh said last week that they are looking into the extent of the company's responsibility in the incident in Gambia.
The cough syrups were exported to Gambia in December last year. The drug was manufactured at Maiden's factory in Haryana. The medicine had an expiry date of November 2024.
According to Reuters, India is known as the pharmacy of the world. India supplies 45 percent of Africa's total drug needs. But the recent death of 69 children in Gambia after consuming cough syrup is a bad example for Indian pharmaceutical companies. It is also a big blow to the Indian pharmaceutical industry.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global warning after the death of 66 children in Gambia after drinking cough syrup made in India. India's Central Draft Standard Control Organization has confirmed that the syrup was exported to Gambia. However, WHO fears that the components of this syrup may spread around the world.
The Union Health Ministry had last week ordered the withdrawal of all Maiden Pharmaceuticals' drugs from the Indian market following a request by the World Health Organization.
According to the World Health Organization, the four syrups that have caused infant deaths are: Promethazine Oral Solution, Cofixmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Macoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup. WHO has issued a warning and said that these four cough syrups have spread not only in Gambia but also in various areas including bootleg markets. They said that a serious situation can be created at any time.
The Gambia saw a record increase in deaths related to acute kidney complications among children under the age of five in late July. The Gambian government subsequently suspended all use of paracetamol syrup and urged the public to use tablets instead.
Gambia's director of health services, Mustapha Bitte, said they have seen cases of stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and death from kidney complications after consuming the syrup. He also said that they have also found evidence of the presence of E. coli, a deadly bacteria harmful to children, in this syrup.
