Govt says cough syrups linked to Gambia kids' deaths not sold in India, orders probe | Top points

The Centre has ordered a probe following the WHO's alert on four cough syrups linked to deaths in the Gambia. However, the government has maintained that these syrups are not sold in India.

The Union Health Ministry said that the samples of cough syrups allegedly linked to the death of children in Gambia have been sent for testing. The government, however, underlined that these syrups were made only for exports and not sold in India.

The World Health Organisation issued a medical product alert for four cough syrups, manufactured in Haryana's Sonepat, claiming they have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children in the Gambia.

Following this, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) launched a probe and ordered a detailed investigation against the cough and cold syrups produced and exported to the Gambia.

Here are the top developments in this story.

1. In a statement, the Health Ministry said that the WHO informed the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) that it was providing technical assistance and advice to the Gambia, where children have died. The WHO suspected the deaths were linked to the use of medicines which may have been contaminated with Diethylene glycol or Ethylene glycol, which is a toxic substance and has been associated with several cases of mass poisoning.

2. According to the preliminary investigation, it has been made out that M/s Maiden Pharmaceutical Limited, the manufacturer in Sonepat, produced the four syrups in question -- Promethazine Oral Solution BP, Kofexnalin Baby Cough Syrup, MaKoff Baby Cough Syrup and MaGrip n Cold Syrup. The company was licensed by the State Drug Controller for manufacturing these products and export them only to the Gambia.