The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday issued a medical product alert on four contaminated medicines in Gambia. It has identified that the products have been potentially linked to acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the media briefing said, “WHO has today issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in The Gambia that have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children. The loss of these young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families. The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, in India.”
According to WHO, the four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India. The global body said it is conducting further investigation with the company and Indian regulatory authorities.
The four substandard (contaminated) paediatric medicines identified by the WHO are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
“While the contaminated products have so far only been detected in The #Gambia, they may have been distributed to other countries. WHO recommends all countries detect and remove these products from circulation to prevent further harm to patients”, he said.
