MFDA advise caution regarding Indian-made four cough syrups over contamination

Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), on Sunday, advised caution regarding Indian-made four cough syrups over contamination – citing possible chances of the medications being imported to the Maldives.

In a statement released earlier today, MFDA said that the children’s cough syrups manufactured by India’s Maiden Pharmaceuticals has been contaminated with unsafe amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

The contamination had been reported by Gambia, to the World Health Organization (WHO), said MDFA.

Under instructions of WHO, MFDA had banned the use of four cough syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals during last December. They are;

• Promethazine Oral Solution, Lot Number: ML21-202
• Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Lot Number: ML21-199
• Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, Lot Number: ML21-203
• Magrip N Cold Syrup, Lot Number: ML21-198

“Although these medications are not included in the list of medications permitted for import and sale in the Maldives, as there is the possibility of these medications being important into the Maldives through prescriptions and other means, caution is urged,” the statement read.

MFDA that said that as a safety precaution, they will be monitoring ports with special attention to ensure these medications do not get imported to the country, even through prescriptions.

These four medications are potentially linked to over 60 deaths amongst children in Gambia, and multilple acute kidney injuries.