What information does the Drug Administration of Vietnam have about some toxic cough syrups and suspensions that the WHO has just warned about?
Regarding the information that WHO discovered some toxic cough syrups and suspensions produced by Pharmix Laboratories (Pakistan) in a number of countries and territories, the Drug Administration of Vietnam – Ministry of Health said, through searching emergency data. The circulation registration certificate shows that there is no circulation registration certificate for this company’s medicine in Vietnam.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has just announced that it has discovered a number of contaminated cough syrups and suspensions in the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific. WHO said the affected products were manufactured by Pharmix Laboratories (Pakistan) and were first detected in the Maldives and Pakistan. Some contaminated products also appeared in Belize, Fiji and Laos.
According to WHO, some drugs and syrups with active ingredients to treat certain medical conditions contain excess amounts of ethylene glycol.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam – Ministry of Health said that through searching the data on issuance of circulation registration certificates, it was found that there was no drug circulation registration certificate for Pharmix Laboratories (Pakistan) company that produces a number of contaminated cough syrups and suspensions. toxic in Vietnam. (Illustration)
Currently, WHO has not recorded any cases of side effects due to these drugs. However, WHO said countries will increase vigilance and inspection of products produced by Pharmix Laboratories during the period from December 2021 to December 2022.
Regarding this information, talking to Health & Life in the early hours of December 13, a representative of the Drug Administration of Vietnam – Ministry of Health said that immediately after receiving the information, the Department’s leaders requested the The relevant functional department reviews the records. Through searching data on drug circulation registration, including documents being processed at the Drug Administration of Vietnam and drug import licensing data as of the morning of December 13, it shows that there is no circulation registration according to regulations. stipulated in Decree 54/2017/ND-CP.
Specifically, the products Alergo syrup, Emidone suspension, Mucorid syrup, Ulcofin suspension and Zincell syrup of Pharmix Laboratories (Pakistan) have not been granted registration for circulation in Vietnam.
Pharmaceutical company Pharmix Laboratories (Pakistan) has not had any drugs granted registration for circulation in Vietnam and has not had drug registration dossiers submitted to the Drug Administration of Vietnam, and has not been granted import licenses for unlicensed drugs. circulation registration.
WHO said a total of 23 product batches of Alergo syrup, Emidone suspension, Mucorid syrup, Ulcofin suspension and Zincell syrup were affected. Currently, Alergo syrup is the only drug discovered outside Pakistan.
According to the warning, the concentration of ethylene glycol in the drug ranges from 0.62-0.82%, higher than the allowed level of 0.1%. These medications are used to treat coughs, allergies, and other health problems.
WHO warns that products that do not meet these standards are unsafe and that their use, especially by children, can lead to serious injury or death.
Currently, Pharmix Laboratories has not commented on the above information.
Previously, the Pakistan Drug Administration discovered a number of other products that were also contaminated during an inspection of Pharmix Laboratories’ production facilities. As a result, the agency asked the company to stop producing the cough syrup and issued a recall warning in November./.