Following the death of 20 children in Madhya Pradesh due to contaminated cough syrup, Maharashtra FDA has launched a special drive to inspect and test ‘liquid oral formulations’ stocked by hospitals and distributors.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has directed all joint commissioners and drug inspectors to immediately submit details of all manufacturers under their jurisdiction and collect samples from government and semi-government hospitals, private wholesalers and retailers.
A circular was issued after a video conference chaired by the FDA Commissioner on Tuesday.
Officials were directed to immediately report details of all liquid oral formulation manufacturers and ensure that suspected consignments of the drug are seized from hospitals and distributors.
The circular said drug inspectors and assistant commissioners have been asked to collect samples from government and semi-government hospitals as well as private wholesalers and retailers for priority testing.
Samples from Mumbai, Konkan, Pune and Nashik divisions will be sent to a laboratory in Mumbai, while samples from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati and Nagpur divisions will be sent to the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar laboratory. Sample collection is to be completed by October 9 and daily reports are to be submitted through a dedicated Google Form.
