New Delhi: The cough syrup which caused of death of 18 children in Uzbekistan was not being sold in India, the officials said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. As many as 18 children had died of acute respiratory disease after having a cough syrup manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical firm named, Doc-Max, the Health Ministry of Uzbekistan has claimed.
Manufacturing of the cough syrup has been halted, said Hasan Raza, the legal head of the Noida-based Marion Biotech Pharma company and assured to take action as per the reports of the inquiry conducted by the government, reported news agency ANI
"We regret deaths, the government is conducting the inquiry. We will take action as per the report. Samples were collected. Manufacturing of that product has been halted as of now and other processes are underway," he told ANI.
Addressing the matter, Union Health Minister Masukh Mandaviya said that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is in regular contact with the national drug regulator of Uzbekistan since December 27.
"Immediately on receipt of the information, a joint inspection of Marion Biotech’s Noida facility was carried out by Uttar Pradesh Drug Control and the CDSCO team. Further action as appropriate would be initiated based on the inspection report," Union Minister Mandaviya said in a tweet.
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"The samples of the cough syrup have been taken from the manufacturing premises and sent to Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory, Chandigarh for testing," he added.
The Congress cornered the government on Thursday and demanded the "strictest" action on the Uzbekistan government's claim.
Taking to Twitter, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "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."