John Adoyi, PBA Journalism Mentee
India’s health authority has come out to defend the cough syrups that were linked to the death of 66 children in The Gambia.
According to a letter dated December 13, addressed to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India’s health authority said the firm, Maiden Pharmaceuticals did not violate any safety requirement in the production of Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff baby syrup and Magrip Cold syrup.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa earlier reported that the Global health body in October accused Maiden Pharmaceutical LTD, an Indian company of violating the standard amount of “Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol” in the cough and cold syrups that led to the kidney failure in the 66 children.
The letter sent to the World Health Organisation by Dr V.G. Somani, India’s drug controller general said that the test carried out revealed that the drugs by Maiden Pharmaceuticals “have been found to be complying with specifications” and “were found not to have been contaminated” with Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol.
According to Dr Somani, the test was carried out in a government laboratory.
The India’s drug controller general also said the WHO was contacted by the authorities for further information concerning their findings but got no reply.
The Gambia’s health ministry had in late September asked hospitals to stop using some cough and cold syrups pending the outcome of an investigation, after at least 66 children died of acute kidney failure.
However, a representative of The Gambia’s national regulator, Tijan Fallow said in late October that it had not yet confirmed whether the medicines were responsible for the deaths.
“We haven’t concluded yet it is the medicine that caused it. A good number of kids died without taking any medications,” Tijan Fallow said.
