Before the new year, almost two dozens death of children were registered in Uzbekistan, the cause of which was indicated as taking the drug "Doc-1 Max" produced by the Indian pharmaceutical company Marion Biotech. All of the victims are children under the age of 6. According to the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, ethylene glycol was found in a batch of syrup distributed in the country.
On the fact of the death of children, criminal cases were initiated, several people involved in the registration of the drug in Uzbekistan, its import and sale were arrested. Seven responsible employees were dismissed from their positions. The sale of all products manufactured by Marion Biotech has been suspended.
The state of the industry, which led to the death of children, was sharply criticized by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. “The death of children in Samarkand and Kashkadarya showed the state of affairs on the ground, the lack of control. Today I fired the head of Kariev's pharmaceutical agency. All those responsible for what happened will answer before the law,” Mirziyoyev said.
At this point, 19 cases of death of children after taking Indian syrup are known.
Neighboring countries in the region reacted to the event in Uzbekistan. The State Pharmaceutical Supervision Service of Tajikistan has banned the sale of a drug to eliminate the symptoms of acute respiratory diseases - "DOK 1 Max" in all pharmacies of the country. Measures have been taken to withdraw all types of the drug from sale. All negative cases of its use in Uzbekistan are also being studied. If the service reveals the sale of this drug in pharmacies in Tajikistan or a complaint is received from the consumer, then the seller will face a complete closure and deprivation of the license.
It is not excluded that the same decisions will be made by the authorities of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 3, 2023