Cough syrups linked to deaths abroad not registered in M'sia

Cough syrups that have recently been banned in Indonesia due to excessive ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol content are not registered to be sold in Malaysia, said the Health Ministry.

The statement came amid a spike in child deaths in Gambia and Indonesia due to acute kidney injury, which has been linked to cough syrups containing excessive amounts of the excipients.

“Based on checks on the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency’s (NPRA) database, the Health Ministry finds that all five products (affected by the ban) are not registered in Malaysia.

“The NPRA will conduct continuous monitoring to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines,” the ministry’s pharmacy services senior director Norhaliza A Halim said in a statement today.

It was responding to an Oct 20 news report on a local news portal about the ban in Indonesia. The affected cough syrups are - Termorex Sirup, Flurin DMP Sirup, Unibebi Cough Sirup, Unibebi Demam Sirup, and Unibebi Demam Drops.

All five are said to be manufactured in Indonesia.

On Oct 13, it was reported that 70 children had died of acute kidney injury believed to be linked to cough syrups manufactured by the New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

In the meantime, India’s health authorities have shut down one of Maiden’s factories after finding 12 violations of good practices at the factory.

4 Maiden products also not registered

The World Health Organization had reportedly said analysis of four of Maiden’s products - Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup - found excessive amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

It said these can be toxic and lead to acute kidney injury.

On Oct 7, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that none of the four cough syrups is registered in Malaysia.

After Gambia, Indonesia reported a similar spike in child deaths due to acute kidney injury, which prompted authorities to act.

According to Reuters, 141 children have died of acute kidney injury due to suspected ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol poisoning so far. Most of them were below five years old.

Its food and drug agency is reportedly considering criminal action against two pharmaceutical companies for the excessive ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol content in their cough syrups, but it did not name the companies.

India halts cough syrup production at factory linked to Gambia deaths

India tests samples of cough syrup linked to deaths of children in Gambia

WHO warns against Covid-19 complacency, urges for life-saving action

Covid held up measles vaccinations in Africa, cases surging now

Pakistani hospital overwhelmed as water-borne illnesses spread