WHO declares two Indian syrups substandard after 19 Uzbek deaths
Last updated on: 12 January,2023 12:09 pm
WHO recommends not using Indian cough syrups linked to Uzbekistan deaths.
GENEVA (Web Desk) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that two cough syrups made by an Indian firm should not be used especially for children.
In a medical product alert, the WHO said the "substandard medical products", manufactured by Marion Biotech, "are products that fail to meet quality standards or specifications and are therefore out of specification."
"This WHO Medical Product Alert refers to two substandard (contaminated) products, identified in Uzbekistan and reported to WHO on 22 December 2022. Substandard medical products are products that fail to meet quality standards or specifications and are therefore out of specification," the WHO said in an alert released on its website.
According to WHO, laboratory analysis of samples of cough syrups, undertaken by national quality control laboratories of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan found both products contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and /or ethylene glycol as contaminants.
"Both of these products may have marketing authorizations in other countries in the region. They may also have been distributed, through informal markets, to other countries or regions," the WHO alert added.
The UN health agency added that "the substandard products referenced in this Alert are unsafe and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death."