New Delhi
CNN
—
India’s Cough Syrup Manufacturer Is Involved in At least 18 people died in Uzbekistan production has been discontinued following an investigation by the drug regulator, India’s health minister said on Friday.
The Uzbek Health Ministry said Doc-1 cough syrup made by Indian pharmaceutical company Marion Biotech contains ethylene glycol, a toxic solution.
The Uzbek ministry said seven employees were fired for negligence and all relevant documents were handed over to law enforcement for investigation. The ministry also said the cough syrup was improperly used by parents.
On Friday, India’s Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted that all Marion Boitech’s manufacturing operations at its headquarters in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh were halted on Thursday evening “while the investigation more ongoing,” following an inspection by the Indian Medicines Regulatory Authority.
Marion Biotech could not be immediately reached for comment.
Hasan Harris, legal head of Marion Biotech, told Indian news agency ANI: “We are waiting for the report, the plant has been inspected. We have stopped making all the drugs.” As of Friday, the company’s website was down.
In a statement on Tuesday, Uzbekistan said Doc-1 Max syrup was improperly used by parents as a remedy against colds or as recommended by a pharmacist, and this resulted in respiratory failure. in children taking drugs.
The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan said in its statement that the children who died took 2.5-5ml of the drug at home for 2-7 days, which exceeded the standard dose of the drug for children, before being introduced into the hospital. hospital. The ministry added that all the children were given the drug without a doctor’s prescription.
It remains unclear how many children have taken cough syrup containing ethylene glycol, or have been given more than the standard dose, or both.
The department said it had withdrawn all the tablets and syrups from pharmacies nationwide and said the seven employees responsible had been fired from their positions “due to negligent conduct and careless with their duties”. It also said disciplinary measures were being taken against certain professionals, but it did not specify who or what those measures would be.
Ethylene glycol is commonly found in antifreeze used in motor vehicles. If ingested, it can damage the brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys and can lead to death.
