India Suspends Drugmaker’s License Following WHO’s Contamination Alert

New Delhi: India has suspended the manufacturing license of QP Pharmachem Ltd after the World Health Organization (WHO) reported contamination in its cough syrups. The WHO found unacceptable levels of toxic substances diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in the samples, which can be fatal if consumed.

This comes after similar incidents where cough syrups made in India were linked to child deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan. The suspensions and export halts have tarnished India’s reputation as the “pharmacy of the world.”

Deputy Health Minister Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the parliament about the suspension and revealed that drug samples from QP Pharmachem’s manufacturing premises were declared as “not of standard quality.” Two other companies, Maiden Pharmaceuticals and Marion Biotech Pvt. Ltd, whose products were associated with child deaths, also faced suspensions and export halts. However, all companies involved have denied any wrongdoing.

To address these concerns, India has tightened its testing regulations for cough syrup exports. Now, companies are required to obtain a certificate of analysis from a government laboratory before exporting their products.

These measures aim to safeguard the quality and safety of Indian pharmaceutical exports, maintaining the nation’s position as a global provider of affordable drugs.