A health expert from the Standing National Committee said on Saturday that there are a number of "missing links" in the World Health Organization's (WHO) assertion that over 66 people have died as a result of using cold and cough syrup made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd, news agency ANI reported.
Dr YK Gupta, Vice-Chairman, Standing National Committee while talking to ANI said: "The first death was reported in July but WHO informed the regulator in India on September 29. The Indian government has not received a complete causality assessment. Out of the 23 samples tested, four were found to contain diethylene glycol/ethylene glycol. The missing links must be probed."
He said that any nation that imports medications must first have them tested in accordance with the established standards, which are not being met in this instance.
He said: "When the drug is exported, it is tested and a certificate of analysis is issued and the importing country also gets it tested as per the defined standards or their Pharmacopeia. It seems this was somehow missed," he said. "Medicines produced in India are now known for their quality in the international market and it would be wrong to question their quality because of just one incident. Our regulatory body is strong and we have zero tolerance for all this."
He added: "The new drugs are approved by a central authority- the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) or Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). However, the drugs- which are already approved and are present in the market have a manufacturing license and a production license issued by the state drug controller. And hence, it falls into the purview of a state controller."
Gupta also emphasized the importance of raising public awareness about the availability of licences for exported pharmaceuticals. "Cough syrups sold in India don't have this possibility," Dr Gupta said. Later, Dr. Gupta emphasised that it was important to prevent damaging the reputation of India's whole pharmaceutical industry before the inquiry was finished
He said: "Isolated such incidence must be thoroughly investigated and corrective steps should be taken. However, such isolated incidence must not be generalized and allowed to cast a bad shadow on the entire Drug manufacturer in India. So caution, via the means of thorough investigation, corrective action, and tough disciplinary action against the guilty without panicking and maintaining faith while exhibiting pride in country-made drugs."
(With inputs from ANI)