Govt Forms Expert Panel To Study WHO Report On Deaths Of 66 Children Linked To Indian Cough Syrups: Report

The cough and cold syrups, manufactured by Sonipat-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, have been blamed for the deaths of 66 children from kidney injury in Gambia.

The 'contaminated' cough syrups have so far only been detected in Gambia

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The Centre on Wednesday formed a four-member panel of experts to look into the adverse event reports sent by the WHO over four cough syrups made by a firm in India blamed for the deaths of more than 60 children from kidney injury in Gambia, PTI reported.

Officials privy to the development said the panel will advise and recommend further course of action to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) after examining and analysing the adverse event reports, causal relationship and all related details shared by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The four-member expert panel constitutes of Dr YK Gupta, Vice Chairperson, Standing National Committee on Medicines; Dr Pragya D Yadav, NIV, ICMR, Pune; Dr Arti Bahl, Division of Epidemiology, NCDC, New Delhi; and AK Pradhan, JDC(I), CDSCO, PTI reported.

The cough and cold syrups, manufactured by Sonipat-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, have been blamed for the deaths of 66 children from kidney injury in Gambia.

READ | Haryana Govt Stops Production Of Maiden Pharma Cough Syrup After WHO Alert

The Maiden Pharmaceuticals products for which WHO has issued an alert are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.

The Centre has clarified that the said products were made only for exports and not sold in India.

Earlier in the day, the Haryana government ordered a stay on manufacturing of drugs at the Sonipat unit of Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Maiden has also been asked to explain within a week the "many contraventions" found during a recent inspection, or face suspension or cancellation of license, PTI reported.

On September 29, WHO informed the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) that the cough syrups might have been contaminated with Diethylene glycol or Ethylene glycol.

A detailed investigation was then launched by the CDSCO in collaboration with the State Drugs Controller, Haryana.

As per the tentative results received by the WHO, out of the 23 samples of the products under reference that were tested by WHO, four have been found to contain Diethylene Glycol/ Ethylene Glycol, PTI reported.

(With inputs from PTI)