Following reports that a cough syrup may have contributed to the deaths of dozens of children in The Gambia, Indian authorities ordered a pharmaceutical company to stop manufacturing its products.
Anil Vij, the health minister for the state of Haryana, reported that checks at a Maiden Pharmaceuticals business turned up numerous instances of improper procedures.
The WHO said last week that laboratory analysis of four Maiden products; Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup – had “unacceptable” amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic and lead to acute kidney injury.
The deaths of 66 children, which have been linked to four brands of cough syrup imported from India, are being looked into, according to authorities in The Gambia.
Last week, Maiden Pharmaceuticals expressed astonishment and sadness over the tragedy and said they were assisting with the investigation.
Meanwhile, Indonesia will investigate cases of acute kidney injury which has caused the deaths of more than 20 children in its capital Jakarta this year, health authorities said on Wednesday.
Indonesia’s drug regulator (BPOM) said in a statement the syrups were not registered in the country. Its health ministry said it is talking to experts from the WHO that are investigating the case in Gambia and it has formed a team with the country’s paediatric association (IDAI) and a Jakarta-based hospital to look into the cases.
It said the illness had infected 40 children across the country so far but didn’t say when the cases were first reported.