The World Health Organisation (WHO) Thursday sought answers from the Indian authorities on whether the cough syrup linked to child deaths in the country was exported to other nations, PTI news agency reported, quoting sources. WHO said that the global health agency will decide on issuing a ‘Global Medical Products Alert’ for the cough syrup Coldrif once it receives official confirmation from authorities in India. Such alerts are issued for medicines found to be substandard or contaminated. Till now, 22 children have died due to kidney infections caused by the consumption of the "contaminated" cough syrup, containing Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG). "The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday has asked for a clarification on whether the cough syrup linked to children deaths in the country was exported to other countries as part of the routine process," PTI reported. On Wednesday, the Drugs Controller General of India directed all state and UT drug controllers to ensure testing of raw materials and finished pharmaceutical formulations before they are released in the market, following the deaths of children allegedly linked to the consumption of contaminated cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh. In its advisory, the DCGI said that recent inspections of manufacturing facilities and investigations into drugs declared “Not of Standard Quality” revealed that several manufacturers were not testing each batch of excipients and active ingredients for compliance with prescribed standards before use. "During the inspections carried out at the manufacturing facilities and in the investigations of the drugs declared as Not of Standard Quality, it was observed in the reports that the manufacturers are not carrying out testing of each batch of the excipients/inactive and active pharmaceutical ingredients for verification of compliance with the prescribed standards before using them in the manufacture of formulations and also in the finished products," the advisory dated October 7 said. The advisory further noted recent reports of child deaths in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrups and concerns over their quality. -With PTI inputs
