The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Tuesday that contaminated cough syrup made by a company in India had been found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia earlier this month.
Alert Against India-Manufactured Syrup
In a medical product alert notice, the body said that a batch of “substandard (contaminated) ‘Guaifenesin Syrup TG Syrup’ had been identified” in products in the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia and reported to the WHO on 6 April.
Guaifenesin, which is used to relieve chest congestion and cough symptoms, was found in samples of the Guaifenesin Syrup TG Syrup. WHO said that the samples were analysed by quality control laboratories of the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia.
“The analysis found that the product contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants,” it said.
The health body warned that both ingredients are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal.
"Someone duplicated cough syrup to defame India": Managing Director, QP Pharma Chem Ltd after WHO issues alert
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“The substandard product referenced in this Alert is unsafe and its use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death,” it said.
The body also urged those who have used the syrup, or suffered an adverse reaction or unexpected side-effect after use, to seek immediate medical advice from a healthcare professional.
The “affected” syrup was manufactured by QP Pharmachem Ltd in Punjab and is marketed by Trillium Pharma, Haryana. The WHO added that, to date, neither the stated manufacturer nor the marketer has provided guarantees on the product’s safety and quality.
Previous Cases
In December, Uzbekistan’s health ministry said that 19 children diagnosed with acute respiratory disease died in a span of two months after having “excessive amounts” of India-made cough syrup, Doc-1 Max.
In October, Indonesia announced a ban on all syrup and liquid medication, including prescription and over-the-counter sales, after almost 100 children died from acute kidney injury (AKI) in 2022.
In the same month, 66 children died from AKI in The Gambia due to consuming substandard cough syrups manufactured by India-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.