India’s Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, has confirmed that the country operates a zero-tolerance policy on counterfeit medicines. Show-cause notices have been issued to 71 companies following reports of deaths linked to contaminated Indian-made cough syrups. Of these companies, 18 have been asked to stop production. Mandaviya stated that the government and regulators are vigilant in ensuring that no one dies from counterfeit medicines. India is the largest supplier of generic drugs globally, exporting $17.6 billion worth of cough syrups in 2022-23, compared to $17 billion in 2021-22.
Mandaviya disputed claims that Indian-made cough syrups were linked to the deaths of 66 and 18 children in Gambia and Uzbekistan. He explained that the child who died in Gambia had diarrhoea, and questioned why cough syrup was recommended. Mandaviya added that four of 24 samples taken from the company tested positive for contamination. Despite this, he assured that India conducts risk-based analysis to ensure quality medicines are produced in the country.
