A cough syrup made in India has been linked to the deaths of 18 children.
Uzbekistan’s health ministry said Wednesday that at least 18 children in the country had died after consuming Doc-1 Max syrup, made by Indian pharmaceutical company Marion Biotech.
The manufacturer stopped production of its cough syrup in response.
The company’s legal representative, Hasan Harris, told Reuters partner ANI: “We regret the deaths, the government is investigating. We will take action as per the report.”
The syrup contained a poisonous substance, ethylene glycol, and was given in doses above the standard dose designated for children either by their parents, who took it for a cold remedy, or on the advice of pharmacists. , said the Uzbek ministry.
Seven employees were fired by the Uzbek ministry following an investigation into the matter and “disciplinary measures”
have been taken against certain specialists.
Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups have also been withdrawn from all pharmacies, the ministry added.
India’s drug regulator said it had inspected Marion Biotech’s production facility and samples of the cough syrup had been sent for testing.
The Uzbekistan incident comes after the deaths of 70 children in The Gambia were linked to cough and cold syrups made by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Tests by the World Health Organization found the products contained “unacceptably high” amounts of two substances known to be toxic.
However, the Indian government and the pharmaceutical company have denied the claims linking the syrup to the deaths.
Indonesia also experienced a increase in deaths possibly linked to cough syrup, prompting the government to suspend the sale of all syrups and liquid medicines.
At least 199 people, many of them young children, have died in Indonesia from acute kidney injury since August, with families demanding compensation and the government launching an investigation.
