Inspection of Indian Drug Company; The decision follows the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan due to cough syrup

New Delhi/Noida : Marion Biotech, an Indian pharmaceutical company, has been embroiled in controversy after allegations that its cough medicine ‘Doc1-Max’ killed 18 children in Uzbekistan. The legal representative of the company informed on Thursday that the production of this medicine has been stopped for the time being. The Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) has also started an inquiry into the matter.

Uttar Pradesh government officials said an investigation had been launched at Marion Biotech Company’s office in Noida, near the country’s capital, following allegations made by Uzbekistan’s health ministry. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed that further action will be taken based on the findings after the inspection. “Samples of this drug have been taken from the manufacturing centers in Noida and sent to the Regional Drug Testing Laboratory in Chandigarh for testing. CDSCO has been in constant contact with the drug regulators of Uzbekistan since December 27 in this regard,” he said.

The cough medicine ‘Doc1-Max’ manufactured by Marion Biotech Company is not sold in India and is exported only to Uzbekistan.

Details sought from Uzbekistan

New Delhi: India is in touch with the Uzbek authorities and has sought details of the ongoing investigation there in the wake of the deaths related to an Indian company’s cough medicine, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. The Indian Embassy in Tashkent has released a statement in this regard. In this regard, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, said that legal assistance will be provided to the persons related to the company facing legal action in Uzbekistan.

BJP-Congress clashed

New Delhi: Congress and BJP clashed on Thursday after the deaths of children in Uzbekistan linked to an Indian company’s cough medicine. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh demanded through Twitter that ‘Government should stop talking that India is the hospital of the whole world and take strict action in this matter.’ ‘Congress is maligning India due to hatred of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi retorted by asking, “Whose interest is the Congress protecting when India’s pharmaceutical exports have increased after Corona and China’s has declined?”