Cough syrup samples sent for testing

Gambia recalls cough syrup linked to deaths of 66 children

The government on Thursday said samples of cough syrups manufactured by an Indian firm allegedly linked to the deaths of children in Gambia have been sent for testing by drug regulator DCGI and its results will guide further course of action.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday warned that four "contaminated" and "substandard" cough syrups allegedly produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited based in Haryana's Sonepat could be the reason for the deaths in the West African nation.

India's drug regulator Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has already initiated a probe and sought further details from the WHO.

Meanwhile, Gambia has launched a door-to-door campaign to collect cough and cold syrups blamed for the deaths of more than 60 children from kidney injury in the tiny West African country, reports said on Thursday.

Haryana's Health minister Anil Vij on Thursday said samples of four cough syrups manufactured by the firm have been sent to the Central Drugs Laboratory in Kolkata for examination.

"The samples have been collected by a team of the DCGI and Haryana's Food and Drugs Administration Department and sent to the CDL, Kolkata for examination," Vij said.

He said a senior official of Centre's Department of Pharmaceuticals spoke with Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Health).

Vij said the cough syrups manufactured by the pharma company were approved for export. "It is not available for sale or marketing in the country."

"Whatever action has to be taken will be taken once the CDL report comes. Only after the report is in, we can arrive at any conclusion," Vij said.