Says no need to panic as syrups were manufactured for Gambia
After the government of India ordered a probe into four cough syrups following an alert issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), deputy drug controller Kashmir has asked all Assistant Drug Controllers (ADCs) for immediate action for identifying the formulations from the distribution channels.
According to a communiqué, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), deputy drug controller Kashmir stated that all Assistant Drugs Controllers are requested for immediate necessary action after identifying the formulations from the distribution channels.
It said that any action taken or seizures made may be shared with the office for onward appraisal of higher-ups, stressing that the matter may be treated as most urgent.
The WHO had issued an alert over four cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India, warning they could be linked to the deaths of 66 children in the Gambia.
Meanwhile Deputy Drug Controller Kashmir division, Nighat Andrabi on Friday said that people need not panic as the cough syrups regarding which the World Health Organization had issued an alert were manufactured only for Gambia.
Talking to KNO, she said that the four products were not manufactured for Kashmir or India, but they were manufactured for the Gambia only, so there is no reason for people to panic here.
Andrabi said that they have already issued a circular and so far nothing has been found on the ground by their teams. “Still we are checking all the products in order to be sure. But for now, there is no need to panic,” she added.
She also said that rumour mongers are always there and people should not pay any heed to them—(KNO)