Bahrain does not sell any WHO-banned cough or cold kids syrups: NHRA

TDT | Manama        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The National Health Regulatory Authority yesterday announced that none of the contaminated cough and cold syrups banned by the World Health Organisation is in circulation in Bahrain.

"Similar medicines marketed and locally available are not from the banned manufacturer or supplier, NHRA statement said. WHO had said that the deaths of dozens of young children in the Gambia from acute kidney injuries may be linked to contaminated cough and cold syrups.

The findings, announced by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, followed tests on several medicinal syrups suspected of causing 66 child deaths in the tiny West African country.

Tedros told reporters that the UN agency was investigating Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The WHO issued a medical product alert on Wednesday asking regulators to remove Maiden Pharma goods from the market.

"The products may have been distributed elsewhere through informal markets but had so far been identified only in the Gambia," the WHO alert said. The alert covers four products: Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.

Lab analysis confirmed "unacceptable" amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic and lead to acute kidney injury, the WHO said. Maiden Pharmaceuticals manufactures medicines and exports them to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, the Maidan website says.

India vows strict action

The Maiden Pharmaceuticals manufactures medicines and exports them to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, Maidan website says. Meanwhile, India said it is testing samples of cough syrups produced by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

“Samples have been sent to a central pharmaceutical laboratory for testing,” Anil Vij, the health minister of Haryana state where Maiden has its factories, told reporters. “Strict action will be taken if anything is found wrong.”

The federal health ministry would take all “required steps” in the matter, two officials said, adding that India was awaiting a report establishing “causal relation to death with the medical products in question” from the WHO.