New Delhi: The government has started an investigation into four cough syrups manufactured by a Haryana-based pharmaceutical firm.
“While all required steps will be taken, as a robust regulatory authority, WHO has been requested to share with CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) the earliest the report on the establishment of a causal relation to the deaths with the medical products in question, photographs of labels/products etc,” an official source told reporters in New Delhi.
The probe was launched after the World Health Organisation on Wednesday warned that four “contaminated” and “substandard” cough syrups, allegedly produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited based in Haryana’s Sonepat could be the reason for the deaths in the West African nation, according to a PTI report from Geneva.
According to the WHO alert, the four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
“To date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products,” the alert said, adding that laboratory analysis of samples of the products “confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.”
Sources from the ministry said the “exact one to one causal relation of death” has not yet been provided by WHO”. They added that the WHO is yet to share the details and photos of labels confirming the manufacturer of the products.