Why does Gambia want to sue an Indian drug manufacturer?
Gambia's government has taken significant steps towards seeking potential legal action against Indian drugmaker, Maiden Pharmaceuticals and a local distributor following a tragic incident in which at least 70 children, most under the age of 5, lost their lives to acute kidney injury.
The deaths in October 2022 were linked to contaminated cough and cold syrups imported from India, sparking outrage and demands for accountability.
Task force report
- In the wake of the child fatalities in Gambia last year, a government task force conducted a thorough investigation, attributing the deaths directly to the consumption of toxic cough syrups.
- The inquiry revealed that the four types of medicine, manufactured in India, contained harmful chemicals, diethylene glycol, and ethylene glycol, commonly used as antifreeze.
- These substances led to acute kidney failure in dozens of innocent children, prompting an urgent call for action.
Legal pursuit
- To get justice and compensation for the affected families, Gambia has sought the services of a prominent U.S. law firm to explore potential legal avenues.
- Despite the denials from Maiden Pharmaceuticals and assurances from the Indian government regarding the drugs' safety, the Gambian authorities are determined to pursue accountability and redress for the tragic losses.
- The trial on the case is scheduled to begin in October, signalling Gambia's commitment to hold those accountable for the tragedy responsible.
ALSO READ: WHO links death of 66 children in Gambia to Indian cough syrups; India launches investigation
Regulatory failures
- The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) of Gambia also faced severe scrutiny when it was discovered that the medicines responsible for the fatalities were not registered with the MCA, a violation of existing regulations.
Gambia Govt Dismisses MCA Executive Director Following Task Force Report on AKI @Kerrfatou https://t.co/GRXe1NQ3tY
— Kerr Fatou (@Kerrfatou) July 21, 2023
- In response, the Gambian government fired the executive director and deputy director of the MCA and referred the matter to the police for further investigation.
Cooperation seeking
- The Gambian government is also engaging in dialogue with the Government of India to address the issue and seek potential redress.
- The government's decision to explore legal action against the Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer underscores the seriousness with which they approach this matter.
Indian pharma under scrutiny again after the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan caused by an Indian-manufactured cough syrup https://t.co/Zyu4mZMvkr pic.twitter.com/jsl62jRItk
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 30, 2022
- In light of the devastating impact on affected families in Gambia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urgently called for coordinated action to eradicate non-compliant and falsified medicines, particularly contaminated cough syrups, in a bid to prevent similar incidents in the future.