WHO Cautions Against 7 India-Made Syrups, Linked to Death of Patients

New Delhi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday flagged seven India-made syrups following an inquiry on contaminated medicines and syrups linked to over 300 deaths throughout the world. The WHO has identified 20 such syrups, manufactured in India to caution all regarding them. They include cough syrups and vitamin supplements.

In the recent past deaths of patients in Uzbekistan, Gambia, and Nigeria were linked with India-made medicines. WHO also raised concern over India-made cough syrups that were associated to deaths in Gambia, and Uzbekistan.

India’s drug controller had halted operations of Noida’s Marion Biotech, Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals, Chennai-based Global Pharma, and Punjab’s QP Pharmachem following WHO alert.

Health Ministry is chalking out a new mechanism to get all medicines tested for quality control before their exports.