In The Gambia, the government has linked four types of cough syrups imported from India to an outbreak of acute kidney failure, which killed 70 children.
A commission of inquiry from the presidency of The Gambia, noted several malfunctions that led to the use of these syrups.
Health Minister Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh announced the dismissal of the director of the drug control agency and his deputy. He also said that the Gambian government was exploring ways to sue the Indian pharmaceutical company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, from which the drugs originated, and to obtain compensation. A trial is due to open at the end of October in The Gambia on this case.
According to the WHO, these drugs contained “unacceptable” amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, commonly used as antifreeze and the ingestion of which can be fatal.
The WHO had launched a call in early 2023 for “immediate and coordinated action” to eradicate non-compliant and falsified medicines, in particular adulterated cough syrups. This syrup produced in India will have killed a total of 300 children in Gambia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan.
With AFP
