India Awaiting WHO Evidence On Cough Syrup Link To Gambia Deaths

India is awaiting the World Health Organisation (WHO) evidence of a link between an Indian cough syrup and the deaths of dozens of children in Gambia.

This is after the UN agency said the medicine may cause kidney damage, two Indian officials said on Thursday.

The death of 66 children in Gambia is a blow to India’s image as a pharmacy of the world that supplies medicines to all continents, especially Africa.

“Urgent investigation in the matter has been already taken up immediately after receiving communication from WHO based on the available information,” said one of two health ministry staff members who spoke to Reuters on behalf of the ministry.

“While all required steps will be taken in the matter, India was awaiting a report establishing causal relation to death with the medical products in question and other details from the WHO."

The UN health agency informed the Drugs Controller General of India of the deaths late last month after which the regulator launched an investigation with state authorities, in tandem with the WHO.