Action taken against firms blamed for Gambian syrup deaths

In Summary

•Last year, Indian-made cough medicine was blamed for dozens of child deaths in The Gambia and Uzbekistan.

The WHO had advised regulators to stop the sale of Indian-made cough syrups
The WHO had advised regulators to stop the sale of Indian-made cough syrups
Image: GETTY IMAGES

India's Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, says regulators have taken action against more than 100 pharmaceutical companies in response to deaths linked to cough syrups last year.

Last year, Indian-made cough medicine was blamed for dozens of child deaths in The Gambia and Uzbekistan.

After inspections of manufacturing plants, the minister said production had been stopped at 31 companies. Product licences have been cancelled or suspended at a further 50 firms.

The Indian government has previously said it would make tests mandatory for cough syrups before they were exported.

India sees itself as the pharmacy of the world, with exports of medicines last year worth more than $24bn (£18.6bn).

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