In Uzbekistan, India-made cough syrup is found to be behind the death of 18 children as they consumed the syrup manufactured by Indian drugmaker Marion Biotech, international media reported quoting Uzbek Health Ministry.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, 18 out of 21 children who took the Doc-1 Max syrup while suffering from an acute respiratory disease died after consuming it. The syrup is marketed on the company’s website as a treatment for cold and flu symptoms.
A batch of the syrup contained ethylene glycol, which the ministry said was a toxic substance, according to a report by Reuters.
The ministry statement added that syrup was imported into Uzbekistan by Quramax Medical.
It also said the syrup was given to children at home without a doctor’s prescription, either by their parents or on the advice of pharmacists, with doses that exceeded the standard dose for children.
It was not immediately clear whether all or any of the children had consumed the suspect batch or had consumed more than the standard dose, or both.
Meanwhile, seven employees have been dismissed for negligence for not analyzing the deaths in a timely manner and not taking the necessary measures, the ministry said.
Earlier in Gambia, deaths of 70 children were linked to the cold syrups made by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals.
However, both India’s government and the company later denied the medicines were at fault.
