LONDON, Jan 23 (Portal) – The World Health Organization has called for ‘immediate and concerted action’ to protect children from contaminated medicines, following a string of cough syrup-related deaths in children last year.
In 2022, more than 300 children – mostly under the age of 5 – died from acute kidney damage in The Gambia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan, in deaths linked to contaminated medicines, the WHO said in a statement on Monday.
The drugs, over-the-counter cough syrups, were high in diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
“These contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze that can be deadly even in small amounts and should never be in medicines,” WHO said.
In addition to the above countries, the WHO told Portal on Monday that the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Senegal and Cambodia could potentially be affected as they may have the drugs available for sale. She called for action in all 194 member states to prevent further deaths.
[1/4] The logo of Marion Biotech, a healthcare and pharmaceutical company, is seen on a gate in front of their office in Noida, India, December 29, 2022. Portal/Anushree Fadnavis
“As these are not isolated incidents, WHO is calling on various key players in the medical supply chain to act promptly and in a coordinated manner,” WHO said.
The WHO sent out specific product alerts back in October and earlier this month, asking for the drugs to be removed from shelves, for cough syrups from Indian companies Maiden Pharmaceuticals and Marion Biotech that have been linked to deaths in The Gambia and Uzbekistan, respectively.
Last year it also issued an alert for cough syrups manufactured and sold domestically by four Indonesian manufacturers, PT Yarindo Farmatama, PT Universal Pharmaceutical, PT Konimex and PT AFI Pharma.
The companies involved have either denied that their products were contaminated or have declined to comment while the investigations are ongoing.
The WHO reiterated its call for the products flagged above to be phased out, and more broadly called on countries to ensure all medicines for sale are approved by the relevant authorities. It also called on governments and regulators to allocate resources to inspect manufacturers, increase market surveillance and take action where necessary.
It urged manufacturers to buy raw materials only from qualified suppliers, test their products more thoroughly, and keep records of the process. Suppliers and distributors should check for signs of counterfeiting and only distribute or sell medicines approved for use, the WHO added.
Reporting by Jennifer Rigby; Edited by Mark Heinrich and Christina Fincher
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