The Indian government has launched an inquiry into an allegation that the local pharmaceutical regulator, in return for a bribe, helped switch samples of cough syrups that were linked to the death of at least 70 children in Gambia before the samples were tested in an Indian laboratory, the news agency Reuters said in a report on Wednesday (June 14).

The Indian government has launched an inquiry into an allegation that the local pharmaceutical regulator, in return for a bribe, helped switch samples of cough syrups that were linked to the death of at least 70 children in Gambia before the samples were tested in an Indian laboratory, the news agency Reuters said in a report on Wednesday (June 14). Citing a letter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the Indian state of Haryana, the report said a lawyer named Yashpal has accused the state's Drug Controller Manmohan Taneja of taking a $605,419 bribe from Maiden Pharmaceuticals to help it switch the samples before the laboratory tested them. Yashpal did not mention where he got this information from in the letter or gave any evidence for his claim about the syrups manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Speaking to Reuters, Yashpal said he learned about the bribe allegation from two individuals in India's pharmaceutical industry, one working with Maiden, but refused to identify them. 'Want the matter formally investigated' The lawyer told Reuters that he wanted the matter to be formally investigated, and he was waiting to be asked to submit an affidavit that would trigger such an investigation. Yashpal further said that he neither represented any pharmaceutical companies nor worked on cases involving compensation. He started looking into Manmohan Taneja after a friend from the pharmaceutical industry alerted him to another case of alleged corruption. After the Gambia case came into public light, Yashpal said he started probing more closely and spoke with 40 sources across Haryana. During his conversations, the lawyer learnt about the alleged bribe. In the letter, the lawyer made around half a dozen claims of corruption against Taneja including the state's drug controller taking bribes to approve products and issue drug licences since 2021. However, no evidence was provided to support these claims. "I want an investigation done by someone outside the health department because Taneja himself is a senior health official. It is a question of India's reputation," Yashpal added. Last month, Taneja's deputy Lalit Kumar Goel asked Yashpal to come to the regulator's office "with all relevant documents" to discuss the inquiry, the report said citing another letter. The lawyer said he did not comply with this request as he did not feel comfortable bringing such details to the deputy of someone he accused of corruption Lawyer's complaint to be taken forward Shatrujeet Kapur, director-general of the Haryana ACB, told Reuters that Yashpal's complaint would be taken forward by the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) for health in Haryana, the state's top health bureaucrat. The state's Additional Chief Secretary, G. Anupama, meanwhile, told the news agency that an inquiry was underway. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Gambia syrup deaths: Indian govt probes bribery claim to rig testing of syrup

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday (October 5) said that it is investigating "contaminated" medicines, majorly for pediatric use, which are found to contain toxic chemicals.&nbsp;

WHO has issued a warning that they could be linked to the deaths of 66 children in the west African nation of The Gambia.&nbsp;

The cough and cold syrups are produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited in India.&nbsp;

In a series of tweets, the WHO, citing its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: "WHO has today issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in #Gambia that have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children. The loss of these young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families."&nbsp;

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It added, "The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, in India. WHO is conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India."&nbsp;

Tedros also said that WHO was "conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India."&nbsp;

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"The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, in India. WHO is conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India"-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a> <a href="https://t.co/PceTWc836t">https://t.co/PceTWc836t</a>
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As per the alert issued by WHO, the four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup.&nbsp;

WHO mentioned that "to date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products." It further added that laboratory analysis of samples of the products "confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants."&nbsp;

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The warning states that the toxic substances and can be fatal to humans. The toxic effect "can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death."&nbsp;

WHO said that information received from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation indicated that the manufacturer had only supplied the contaminated medications to The Gambia.&nbsp;

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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday (October 5) said that it is investigating "contaminated" medicines, majorly for pediatric use, which are found to contain toxic chemicals.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday (October 5) said that it is investigating "contaminated" medicines, majorly for pediatric use, which are found to contain toxic chemicals. WHO has issued a warning that they could be linked to the deaths of 66 children in the west African nation of The Gambia. The cough and cold syrups are produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited in India. In a series of tweets, the WHO, citing its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: "WHO has today issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in #Gambia that have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children. The loss of these young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families." ALSO READ | Singapore makes biggest ever seizure of rhino horn worth US$830,000 It added, "The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, in India. WHO is conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India." Tedros also said that WHO was "conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India." "The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, in India. WHO is conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India"-@DrTedros https://t.co/PceTWc836t — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 5, 2022 × As per the alert issued by WHO, the four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup. WHO mentioned that "to date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products." It further added that laboratory analysis of samples of the products "confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants." Data Lab | India’s Supreme Court gives nod to abortion, regardless of marital status The warning states that the toxic substances and can be fatal to humans. The toxic effect "can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death." WHO said that information received from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation indicated that the manufacturer had only supplied the contaminated medications to The Gambia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WHO alleges 'made in India' cough syrup linked to death of 66 kids in Gambia, probe underway

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Gambia syrup deaths: Indian govt probes bribery claim to rig testing of syrup

WHO alleges 'made in India' cough syrup linked to death of 66 kids in Gambia, probe underway