Substandard Cough Syrups Kill 300 Children: A Matter of Concern

The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating the issue and working with manufacturers and civil society to combat substandard and falsified medical products.

Article in Brief

• Approximately 300 children have died in three countries due to substandard cough syrups made in India since August 2022.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating the matter and working with manufacturers’ associations and civil society to combat substandard and falsified medical products.
• The cough syrups contained “unacceptable” amounts of diethylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol as contaminants.
• Medical products for young children should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider, as per the WHO’s statement.
• An investigation by the Indian government into the deaths of children in Gambia blamed on cough syrups made by an Indian company did not find substantial evidence to establish causality between the medicine and the deaths.

Introduction

A sad and alarming incident has come to light regarding the quality of medical products for children. In the past few months, reports have emerged from three countries about substandard cough syrups causing the deaths of approximately 300 children. The World Health Organization (WHO) is now investigating the matter and working with manufacturers’ associations and civil society to combat substandard and falsified medical products.

Number of Deaths

The WHO has confirmed that across the three countries where this issue has been reported since August 2022, there have been approximately 300 deaths. However, the agency is still collecting data from local authorities to get a more accurate picture of the situation. This is a matter of serious concern and highlights the need for better regulation and monitoring of medical products, especially those intended for children.

Involvement of Stakeholders

To prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, the WHO is engaging with manufacturers’ associations and civil society. The involvement and support of these stakeholders is considered crucial in finding a solution to the problem. The WHO is also reviewing its existing guidance and evaluating if the affected cough syrups are medically necessary for children. The agency is working to encourage multiple stakeholders to prevent, detect, and respond to similar incidents.

Evaluation of Products

The WHO stresses that medical products for young children should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider. The agency is reviewing its existing guidance with a view to making any necessary enhancements to ensure the safety and efficacy of these products. The WHO is evaluating if the affected cough syrups are medically necessary for children, and if not, steps need to be taken to prevent their production and distribution.

Contaminants in Cough Syrups

The WHO has found that the cough syrups contained “unacceptable” amounts of diethylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol as contaminants. The levels of these contaminants varied in different laboratory tests, highlighting the need for better quality control and regulation. The presence of these contaminants in cough syrups intended for children is unacceptable and raises questions about the quality control measures in place during the manufacturing process.

Investigation in India

In India, a committee set up by the government to investigate the deaths of children in Gambia blamed on cough syrups made by an Indian company has not found any substantial evidence to establish causality between the medicine and the deaths. The WHO was even asked to provide a causality assessment report, but the agency informed that it was not their domain area. This highlights the need for a more comprehensive investigation into the matter and the need for better cooperation between international agencies, governments, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Conclusion

The WHO is continuing its efforts to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The agency is working with multiple stakeholders to ensure the safety and efficacy of medical products for children. The recent incident of substandard cough syrups causing the deaths of 300 children is a wake-up call for the need for better regulation and monitoring of medical products. The world needs to work together to prevent such incidents from happening and to ensure the safety of children.

(Inputs from Economic Times)