India health minister orders pharmaceutical to stop production of cough syrup linked to death of Gambian children

The health minister of India's northern state of Haryana, Anil Vij, has directed Maiden Pharmaceutical Limited to immediately cease all drug production.

According to reports, Maiden Pharmaceuticals produced four cough syrups that have been connected to severe renal damage and the deaths of 66 children in the Gambia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently issued a notice regarding four cough syrups: Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup, according to current news from TheCable.

The four goods were found in the Gambia, according to the WHO, but they might have found their way to other nations or areas through unofficial marketplaces.

Vij halted the company's manufacturing in a statement on Wednesday.

The minister reported that the pharmaceutical company's combined inspection by the federal and state drug departments of India turned out roughly 12 problems.

“A notice has been served to the pharma company directing that total production shall be stopped,” Vij was quoted as saying.

“Samples of the drugs mentioned by the WHO of Sonipat’s pharmaceuticals company were sent to the Central Drug Lab in Kolkata. The reports are not in yet. Action will be taken after that.”

The minister continued by saying that the Indian government had not yet received all the information.

Nigerians have been cautioned against using the brands of cough syrup by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

All medical professionals and professional organisations included in the agency's database have received alerts, according to NAFDAC director-general Mojisola Adeyeye.

The NAFDAC DG added that steps had been taken to stop the lethal cough syrups from entering Nigeria.

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