
WHO Chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said 4 cough syrups manufactured by an Indian company 'Maiden Pharmaceuticals' based in Sonipat, Haryana were probably linked with acute kidney injuries and deaths in children.
WHO had alerted Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on September 29 after which Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation launched a investigation. The firm's office in Pritampura, Delhi was found shut.
The medicines were identified as Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
The laboratory analysis of these drugs found unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol which are toxic contaminants and can be fatal.
WHO also warned that these products may have also been distributed outside through informal markets and a global exposure is possible.
Sources from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that evidence of direct link between the deaths and use of cough syrups have not been established. WHO has yet to share the data.
Report by Davinder Pal Singh
Graphics by Sanskar Dubey
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