Two cough syrups made in India are unsafe and should not be given to children, warns WHO

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that two cough syrups made by Noida-based company Marion Biotech should not be used for children in Uzbekistan. The two cough syrups banned are AMBRONOL syrup and DOK-1 Max syrup.

The WHO informed that laboratory analysis found that these two products contained diethylene glycol, or ethylene, in excess of what children's bodies could bear.

The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan informed that 19 children had died after consuming the medicines of the Indian pharmaceutical company in December last. The production license of Marion Biotech Company was suspended by the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration department in connection with it.

In the African country of Gambia, it was alleged that the cough syrups of four Indian companies were responsible for the death of 66 children. The central government had also announced an investigation into Promethazine Oral Solution, Cofexmaline Baby Cough Syrup, Makeoff Baby Cough Syrup and Mag Grip N Cold Syrup by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals following a warning by the World Health Organization.