Since the time when India started emerging as a 'Pharmacy of the World' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam' initiative, the Congress party and some left-inclined intellectuals are in search of the one chance to destroy this image of India and Indian government.
In the latest development, a senior Congress leader tries to politicise the latest Uzbekistan incident where 18 children in Uzbekistan died after consuming made-in-India cough syrup, which is not being sold in the Indian market. Linking that issue with the Gambia incident, Congress said the Modi government must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world.
"Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First, it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world and take strictest action," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.
Hitting back to him Amit Malvia said Congress out of its hatred towards Modi linked the Uzbekistan deaths to the Gambia deaths while the cough syrups in the Gambia case were later declared to be fine.
What happened in Uzbek?
It should be noted that on Thursday the Uzbekistan Health Minister informed 18 children died after consuming cough syrup, Doc-1 Max, manufactured by the Noida-based Marion Biotech. This development comes just months after a similar kind of incident took place in the Gambia this year.
As per the Uzbek Health Ministry, ethylene glycol (C₂H₆O₂) which is considered a hazardous chemical to human beings has been found in the batch of syrup.
“To date, 18 out of 21 children with acute respiratory disease have died as a result of taking the Doc-1 Max syrup. It was found that the deceased children, before admission to hospital treatment, took this drug at home for 2-7 days 3-4 times a day, 2.5-5 ml, which exceeds the standard dose of the drug for children,” t
he Health Ministry of Uzbekistan said in a release.
“This substance is toxic, and about 1-2 ml/kg of a 95 per cent concentrated solution can cause serious changes in the patient's health, such as vomiting, fainting, convulsions, cardiovascular problems and acute kidney failure,” the ministry said.
In 2012, Marion Biotech registered its cough syrup Doc-1, Max, for supply to Uzbekistan, and supplied it through Quramax Medical LLC.
India's reaction
Taking cognizance of the matter the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has started an investigation into the matter. Interestingly, it should be noted that this particular syrup is currently not being sold in the Indian market.
Gambia Incident
In the past, 66 kids are thought to have perished in Gambia from cough syrups imported from India. The World Health Organization issued a medical product alert following the deaths stating that four drugs supplied to Gambia by Maiden Pharma were of substandard quality. The Gambian administration, however, had denied any connection between the child fatalities and the Indian cough syrups.