Thursday, March 23, 2023
  • Login
The South First
Advertisement
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Dakshin Dialogues
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Dakshin Dialogues
No Result
View All Result
The South First
No Result
View All Result

Home » Health » 18 children die in Uzbekistan after consuming cough syrup manufactured in India

18 children die in Uzbekistan after consuming cough syrup manufactured in India

18 out of 21 children with acute respiratory disease have died as a result of taking Doc-1 Max syrup manufactured by Marion Biotech.

Sumit JhabySumit Jha
Published:29/12/2022 4:56 am
A A
Uzbekistan children death

Marion Biotech is based out of Noida in Uttar Pradesh. (Supplied)

After the death of 70 children in the Gambia, allegedly due to Indian cough syrup, the Uzbekistan government on Wednesday, 28 December, said 18 children in the country died due to the side effects of a cough syrup produced by Marion Biotech, an Indian pharmaceutical firm.

“We reported the occurrence of side effects in children as a result of taking the drug Doc-1 Max in the city of Samarkand,” said the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan in a statement.

“To date, 18 out of 21 children with acute respiratory disease have died as a result of taking Doc-1 Max syrup,” he added.

The ministry also said that tablets and the syrup Doc-1 Max manufactured by Marion Biotech Private Limited in our country were registered in 2012 and went on sale the same year.

Marion Biotech is based out of Noida in Uttar Pradesh, and caters to the Indian market as well as various countries across the globe, like Russia, former Soviet-Republics countries, South East Asia, Africa, and Latin America, according to the company’s website.

Internal investigation by Uzbekistan

On the basis of the relevant order of the ministry, the authorities conducted an internal investigation into the fact with a site visit.

According to the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry, each drug series was tested with the subsequent issuance of a certificate of conformity. This drug was imported into the country by Quramax Medical LLC.

To date, 18 out of 21 children with acute respiratory disease have died as a result of taking Doc-1 Max syrup, the authorities apparently concluded.

It was reportedly found that the deceased children, before admission to hospital treatment, took this drug at home for two to seven days, three-four times a day, in doses of 2.5-5 ml, which exceeded the standard dose of the drug for children.

All the children were given the drug without a doctor’s prescription.

“Since the main component of the drug is paracetamol, Doc-1 Max syrup was incorrectly used by parents as an anti-cold remedy on their own or on the recommendation of pharmacy sellers. And this was the reason for the deterioration of the condition of patients,” said the ministry.

It added that paracetamol should only be used at a body temperature of 38-38.50C(100-100.50F) and more than once or twice a day. At normal body temperature, taking this drug is strictly prohibited.

Findings of investigation

According to the ministry, preliminary laboratory studies showed that a certain series of Doc-1 Max syrup contained ethylene glycol.

“This substance is toxic, and about 1-2 ml/kg of a 95 percent concentrated solution can cause serious changes in the patient’s health, such as vomiting, fainting, convulsions, cardiovascular problems, and acute kidney failure,” said the ministry.

Taking into account all cases of violation of the law identified by the working group of the Ministry during the study, seven responsible employees were dismissed from their positions due to the fact that they were negligent and inattentive to their duties, did not analyse child mortality in a timely manner, and did not take the necessary measures, also disciplinary measures were applied to a number of specialists.

The collected documents were handed over to law enforcement agencies.

Currently, tablets and syrups of the drug Doc-1 Max are withdrawn from sale in all pharmacies of the country.

The shortcomings identified on the basis of the study materials and the issue of the responsibility of medical workers will be considered at a separate meeting of the Ministry of Health.

In this regard, the ministry has asked parents to be attentive to the health of their children, and to purchase medicines in pharmacies only by prescription.

Deaths in Gambia

Suspecting that the deaths of several children in West Africa’s Gambia from kidney-related complications were linked to four cough-and-cold syrups manufactured by an Indian company, the WHO issued a medical product alert on 5 October.

The four products were Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup.

Medical officers in Gambia raised an alarm in July after several children began falling ill with kidney-related problems three to five days after taking a locally-sold paracetamol syrup.

As many as 28 of them died by August, and the health authorities expected the toll to increase. The toll had risen to 66 by the time the WHO issued its alert in October.

However, the Indian government said that the syrups manufactured and exported were found to be of standard quality. It also claimed that accusations against these syrups impacted the image of India’s pharmaceutical products.

While the Gambia Parliamentary Committee found that Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which manufactured the medicine, was responsible for the deaths of the kids.

“The Select Committee is convinced that Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited is culpable and should be held accountable for exporting the contaminated medicines that were linked to the death of at least 70 children in the Gambia,” read the committee’s report, accessed by South First.

It further recommended the blacklisting of Maiden Pharmaceuticals products and a ban on all their products in the Gambian market.

“The government should pursue legal action against Maiden Pharmaceuticals for exporting contaminated drugs to the Gambia with the Atlantic brand name,” said the committee.

Don't miss our top stories!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more information.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Recommended For You

On 19 March, a case was registered against Mallanna for defamatory comments against K Kavitha and KT Rama Rao. (Facebook)
News

Telangana YouTuber Teenmar Mallanna arrested for ‘abduction’, ‘assault’ of 2 police personnel

March 22, 2023
Telangana Congress leaders with Governor. (Twitter)
News

TSPSC paper leak: Revanth Reddy meets Governor, demands dissolution of TSPSC

March 22, 2023
Smoke billowing from the fire-cracker unit (right); and District Collector M Aarthi at the scene. (Supplied)
Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu tragedy: 9 killed, 17 injured as blasts rip through Kancheepuram firecracker unit

March 22, 2023
TSPSC paper leak BJP
News

TSPSC paper leak case: BJP to organise ‘maha dharna’ on 25 March

March 22, 2023
Sexual Harassment Representational Image
Karnataka

Bengaluru: Police inspector suspended for sexual harassment of woman complainant

March 22, 2023
Deceased men while cleaning drain in Basavanakote village in Davanagere, Sathyappa (45) and Mylappa (42)
Karnataka

Davanagere village offers same ‘sweeper’ jobs to kin of 2 sanitation workers who died cleaning drains

March 22, 2023

Top Stories

Smoke billowing from the fire-cracker unit (right); and District Collector M Aarthi at the scene. (Supplied)

Tamil Nadu tragedy: 9 killed, 17 injured as blasts rip through Kancheepuram firecracker unit

March 22, 2023
Deceased men while cleaning drain in Basavanakote village in Davanagere, Sathyappa (45) and Mylappa (42)

Davanagere village offers same ‘sweeper’ jobs to kin of 2 sanitation workers who died cleaning drains

March 22, 2023
BJP leader Baburao Chinchansur submitted his resignation from the legislative council on Monday. (supplied)

Legislators, caste leaders quit BJP ahead of Karnataka polls. What is the impact on the ground?

March 22, 2023

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Like and Follow

Follow @TheSouthfirst

Latest

On 19 March, a case was registered against Mallanna for defamatory comments against K Kavitha and KT Rama Rao. (Facebook)

Telangana YouTuber Teenmar Mallanna arrested for ‘abduction’, ‘assault’ of 2 police personnel

March 22, 2023
Telangana Congress leaders with Governor. (Twitter)

TSPSC paper leak: Revanth Reddy meets Governor, demands dissolution of TSPSC

March 22, 2023
Smoke billowing from the fire-cracker unit (right); and District Collector M Aarthi at the scene. (Supplied)

Tamil Nadu tragedy: 9 killed, 17 injured as blasts rip through Kancheepuram firecracker unit

March 22, 2023
The South First

CATEGORIES

  • News
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Featured
  • Health & Wellness
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Telangana

PAGES

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 The South First

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Health & Wellness
  • Dakshin Dialogues
  • Videos

© 2023 The South First

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our