Cough syrup deaths in Uzbekistan: Noida agency stops syrup manufacturing ‘for now’, India begins probe
7 min readBy PTI
NEW DELHI/ NOIDA: The manufacturing of Marion Biotech’s Dok-1 Max has stopped “for now”, the corporate’s authorized consultant stated on Thursday because the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation started a probe in reference to the demise of 18 kids in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to the cough syrup.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated additional motion can be taken based mostly on the inspection of the pharma firm, below a cloud after the Uzbekistan well being ministry’s allegation that the youngsters died after consuming Dok-1 Max.
Marion Biotech doesn’t promote Dok-1 Max in India and its solely export has been to Uzbekistan, an Uttar Pradesh authorities official stated as inspection started on the firm workplace in Noida on the outskirts of the nationwide capital on Thursday morning.
Samples of the cough syrup have been taken from the manufacturing premises in Noida and despatched to the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory (RDTL) in Chandigarh for testing, Mandaviya stated.
The CDSCO, he stated, has been in common contact with the nationwide drug regulator of Uzbekistan concerning the matter since December 27.
“Immediately on receipt of information, joint inspection of the NOIDA facility of the manufacturer, Marion Biotech, was carried out by UP Drug Control and CDSCO team and further action as appropriate would be initiated based on the inspection report,” Mandaviya stated in a sequence of tweets.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated India is in contact with the Uzbek authorities and has sought particulars of their investigation into the matter.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi additionally stated consular help is being supplied to some linked to the corporate who’re dealing with authorized motion there.
Noting that the Uzbek authorities haven’t formally taken up the matter with New Delhi, he stated, “Nevertheless, our embassy has contacted the Uzbek side and is seeking further details of their investigation.”
Marion Biotech is a licensed producer and holds the licence for manufacturing Dok-1 Max syrup and pill for export goal granted by the Drugs Controller, Uttar Pradesh, the well being ministry stated in an announcement.
The governments of each nations are trying into the matter, stated Hasan Harris, authorized consultant of the Noida-based Marion Biotech.
“There is no problem from our end and no issue in testing. We have been there for the past 10 years. Once the government report will come, we will look into it. For now the manufacturing has stopped,” Harris instructed PTI.
Before Uzbekistan’s claims, there have been studies linking the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia to cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals earlier this yr.
The Drugs Controller General of India claimed the WHO drew a untimely hyperlink.
Sources stated the DCGI has sought extra data from the Uzbek regulator concerning the newest allegation.
ALSO READ | BJP, Congress spar over cough syrup linked deaths in Uzbekistan, Gambia
According to the Uzbek ministry, the chemical ethylene glycol was present in a batch of Dok-1 Max syrup throughout laboratory assessments.
The alleged function of Indian pharma firms within the deaths of kids overseas had a political fallout too.
While the Congress requested the federal government to cease boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world and take strictest motion, the ruling BJP accused it of deriding India in its “hate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action,” Congress common secretary Jairam Ramesh stated on Twitter.
Made in India cough syrups appear to be lethal. First it was the deaths of 70 youngsters in Gambia & now it’s that of 18 kids in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar should cease boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest motion.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 29, 2022
The BJP hit again by means of its IT division in-charge Amit Malviya who stated, “The death of children in Gambia had nothing to do with the consumption of cough syrup made in India. That has been clarified by the Gambian authorities and DCGI, both. But blinded in its hate for Modi, Congress continues to deride India and its entrepreneurial spirit. Shameful.”
India’s drug regulator instructed the WHO earlier this month that the worldwide well being physique drew a untimely hyperlink between the deaths of kids in Gambia and the 4 India-made cough syrups which adversely impacted the picture of the nation’s pharmaceutical merchandise throughout the globe.
In a letter to Dr Rogerio Gaspar, Director (Regulation and Prequalification) at WHO, DCGI Dr V G Somani stated an announcement issued by the worldwide well being physique in October within the wake of the deaths “was unfortunately amplified by the global media which led to a narrative being built internationally targeting the quality of Indian pharmaceutical products”.
In the letter, Somani stated the samples of the cough syrups have been examined in a authorities laboratory within the nation and located to be complying with specs.
The DCGI had stated that India has been dedicated to rigorous monitoring and oversight to make sure that the very best requirements of manufacture are maintained in high quality management of medication and cosmetics.
NEW DELHI/ NOIDA: The manufacturing of Marion Biotech’s Dok-1 Max has stopped “for now”, the corporate’s authorized consultant stated on Thursday because the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation started a probe in reference to the demise of 18 kids in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to the cough syrup.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated additional motion can be taken based mostly on the inspection of the pharma firm, below a cloud after the Uzbekistan well being ministry’s allegation that the youngsters died after consuming Dok-1 Max.
Marion Biotech doesn’t promote Dok-1 Max in India and its solely export has been to Uzbekistan, an Uttar Pradesh authorities official stated as inspection started on the firm workplace in Noida on the outskirts of the nationwide capital on Thursday morning.
Samples of the cough syrup have been taken from the manufacturing premises in Noida and despatched to the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory (RDTL) in Chandigarh for testing, Mandaviya stated.
The CDSCO, he stated, has been in common contact with the nationwide drug regulator of Uzbekistan concerning the matter since December 27.
“Immediately on receipt of information, joint inspection of the NOIDA facility of the manufacturer, Marion Biotech, was carried out by UP Drug Control and CDSCO team and further action as appropriate would be initiated based on the inspection report,” Mandaviya stated in a sequence of tweets.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated India is in contact with the Uzbek authorities and has sought particulars of their investigation into the matter.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi additionally stated consular help is being supplied to some linked to the corporate who’re dealing with authorized motion there.
Noting that the Uzbek authorities haven’t formally taken up the matter with New Delhi, he stated, “Nevertheless, our embassy has contacted the Uzbek side and is seeking further details of their investigation.”
Marion Biotech is a licensed producer and holds the licence for manufacturing Dok-1 Max syrup and pill for export goal granted by the Drugs Controller, Uttar Pradesh, the well being ministry stated in an announcement.
The governments of each nations are trying into the matter, stated Hasan Harris, authorized consultant of the Noida-based Marion Biotech.
“There is no problem from our end and no issue in testing. We have been there for the past 10 years. Once the government report will come, we will look into it. For now the manufacturing has stopped,” Harris instructed PTI.
Before Uzbekistan’s claims, there have been studies linking the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia to cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals earlier this yr.
The Drugs Controller General of India claimed the WHO drew a untimely hyperlink.
Sources stated the DCGI has sought extra data from the Uzbek regulator concerning the newest allegation.
ALSO READ | BJP, Congress spar over cough syrup linked deaths in Uzbekistan, Gambia
According to the Uzbek ministry, the chemical ethylene glycol was present in a batch of Dok-1 Max syrup throughout laboratory assessments.
The alleged function of Indian pharma firms within the deaths of kids overseas had a political fallout too.
While the Congress requested the federal government to cease boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world and take strictest motion, the ruling BJP accused it of deriding India in its “hate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action,” Congress common secretary Jairam Ramesh stated on Twitter.
Made in India cough syrups appear to be lethal. First it was the deaths of 70 youngsters in Gambia & now it’s that of 18 kids in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar should cease boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest motion.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 29, 2022
The BJP hit again by means of its IT division in-charge Amit Malviya who stated, “The death of children in Gambia had nothing to do with the consumption of cough syrup made in India. That has been clarified by the Gambian authorities and DCGI, both. But blinded in its hate for Modi, Congress continues to deride India and its entrepreneurial spirit. Shameful.”
India’s drug regulator instructed the WHO earlier this month that the worldwide well being physique drew a untimely hyperlink between the deaths of kids in Gambia and the 4 India-made cough syrups which adversely impacted the picture of the nation’s pharmaceutical merchandise throughout the globe.
In a letter to Dr Rogerio Gaspar, Director (Regulation and Prequalification) at WHO, DCGI Dr V G Somani stated an announcement issued by the worldwide well being physique in October within the wake of the deaths “was unfortunately amplified by the global media which led to a narrative being built internationally targeting the quality of Indian pharmaceutical products”.
In the letter, Somani stated the samples of the cough syrups have been examined in a authorities laboratory within the nation and located to be complying with specs.
The DCGI had stated that India has been dedicated to rigorous monitoring and oversight to make sure that the very best requirements of manufacture are maintained in high quality management of medication and cosmetics.
