WHO has issued an alert against four cold and cough syrups made by Medan Pharmaceuticals Limited, an Indian pharmaceutical company based in Haryana. The organization has blamed the cough syrup made by the company for the deaths of 66 children in the West African country of Gambia. After the alert, the Drug Regulatory Body of India (DCGI) has started the investigation as well as sought more details from the WHO.

Here, after this alert, the State Drug Directorate has ordered an inquiry into its use in Jharkhand as well. The Directorate of Drugs has told all drug inspectors that the medicines for which the alert has been issued are common cough syrups. They are also available in small drug stores. In such a situation, check the availability of all four cough syrups in the state. If this cough syrup is found in drug stores, then confiscate it. Dr Sujit Kumar Kumar, Joint Director of the department has asked to investigate the availability of the medicine and submit a report immediately.

In the matter, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said on Thursday that samples of four types of cough syrups produced by the company have been sent to the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kolkata. These samples have been collected by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and the Food and Drugs Administration Department of Haryana. Vij said that whatever steps have to be taken, it will be taken after the report of CDL.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has also started an investigation into the matter after the WHO warned. Four of the 23 samples tested contained traces of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

Alert about these syrups

Promethazine Oral Solution

Cofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup

Mekoff Baby Cough Syrup

Magrip N Cold Syrup

Cough syrup causes heavy wounds in the kidney

Chemicals used in syrups are lethal and toxic

Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are used in these drugs, they are toxic.

Diethylene glycol is a carbon compound that has neither fragrance nor colour. It is sweet, so that children can drink it easily.

The use of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in medicines is banned in the US, Australia and Europe. In India also 33 have died due to them.

On the matter, the Health Ministry has said that these cough syrups have not been sold anywhere in India. The company has only the right of export of these products.