New Delhi: Following the World Health Organization's allegation that India-made cough syrup was behind the deaths of 66 children under 5 years of age in Gambia, the central government has announced an investigation. The investigation is against a pharmaceutical company based in Haryana. According to the Union Health Ministry, the WHO had alerted the DCGI on September 29 about these four cough syrups.
The probe is against four cough syrups of Maiden Pharmaceutical Ltd., Sonepath, and Haryana. It is clear from the preliminary investigation that the drugs were only shipped to Gambia, a country in West Africa. The drug company is yet to respond to the allegations. The corporate office of the company in Delhi closed after the death of children. During the investigations related to the controversy, the office was locked and the employees drowned after the journalists reached the spot to investigate.
The World Health Organization had warned that if the drug was delivered to countries outside The Gambia, the impact would be greater. High levels of dangerous diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol were found in cough syrup. The tests revealed that the cough syrup affected the children's kidneys, which led to their death. The Ministry of Health has stated that the World Health Organization is yet to share information in this regard. The World Health Organization did not specify when these deaths occurred. There is also the question of whether the drugs were distributed in The Gambia without being tested. Four drugs were found to be dangerous. According to the World Health Organization, hazardous levels of chemicals were found in Promethacin Oral Solution. This was along with Cofexamalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup used in the paediatric department.
