WHO Issues Alert Against Usage of Indian Syrups Linked with Uzbekistan Deaths

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised not to use two cough syrups manufactured by a Noida-based firm Marion Biotech after the products were found to be linked to the death of several children in Uzbekistan.

On Wednesday, WHO warned that the 'substandard medical products' made by Marion Biotech "failed to meet quality norms or specifications and are consequently out of specification".

In the alert issued on its official website, the international organization stated, "This WHO Medical Product Alert refers to two substandard (contaminated) products, identified in Uzbekistan and reported to WHO on 22 December 2022. Substandard medical products are products that fail to meet quality standards or specifications and are therefore out of specification."

Marion Biotech Pvt. Ltd, which is listed as the manufacturer of both the products in question - AMBRONOL syrup and DOK-1 Max syrup, has not yet provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products, the alert added.

According to WHO, national quality control laboratories of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan conducted laboratory analyses of samples of cough syrups and discovered both products contained prohibited levels of diethylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol as contaminants.

The Uzbekistan instance comes after a parliamentary investigation connected the deaths of at least 70 children in the Gambia to cough and cold medications made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, a New Delhi-based company. Inspectors from the Indian government were unable to find any contamination in test samples, and the corporation denied any wrongdoing.

According to several reports, the Uttar Pradesh drugs licensing and controlling authority previously suspended Marion Biotech's manufacturing license. Marion Biotech is suspected of being responsible for at least 18 child deaths in Uzbekistan that were allegedly caused by its cough syrup, Dok-1 Max.

The Union health minister had earlier declared that all production at Marion Biotech's manufacturing facility had already been halted in anticipation of a government probe.

"Following inspection by @CDSCO_INDIA_INF team in view of reports of contamination in cough syrup Dok1 Max, all manufacturing activities of Marion Biotech at NOIDA unit have been stopped yesterday night, while further investigation is ongoing", Dr.Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted on December 30.