INDIA: In a shocking incident, the health ministry of Uzbekistan issued a statement claiming Indian manufactured cough syrup Doc-1 Max is life-threatening, causing death to at least 18 children.
The cough syrup is produced in a Noida-based Marion Biotech institute. As per reports, the demised children exceeded the adequate dosage of cough syrup.
Health Ministry of Uzbekistan issues a statement regarding the incident
Uzbekistan’s Health Ministry, reported that consuming Doc-1 Max syrup has caused the deaths of 18 out of 21 kids with acute respiratory illness.
It was discovered that the deceased youngsters consumed 2.5–5 ml of the medication at home over the course of 2–7 days, three or four times per day, exceeding the recommended dosage for kids.
According to Health Ministry, the medication was supplied to all of the kids without a prescription from a doctor in Uzbekistan.
Since paracetamol is the drug’s primary ingredient, Doc-1 Max syrup was improperly administered as an anti-cold medicine on the advice of the pharmacy salespeople, which is what caused the patients’ conditions to worsen.
Preliminary laboratory tests have revealed that the Doc-1 Max syrup in this series includes ethylene glycol. This drug is poisonous, and 1-2 ml/kg of a 95% concentrated solution can lead to major health effects in the patient, including acute kidney failure, fainting, convulsions, vomiting, and fainting.
Adding more to his statement, the Uzbekistan ministry said, “Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups are withdrawn from sale in all pharmacies around the nation in a prescribed manner.”
The ministry conducted a batch test and found the harmful presence of ethylene glycol, a toxic substance which is inadvisable for consumption.
The dosage of 2.5 to 5 ml taken by the kids three to four times a day for 2 to 7 days exceeded the recommended minimum. The Indian government is therefore looking into the situation.
An inquiry will be carried out with the assistance of a joint effort by the teams of the Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO – north zone).
In the recent past, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a warning on October 5, claiming four syrups caused deaths in The Gambia, and Maiden Pharma’s export license has been suspended.
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