The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan reported that 18 children died from a respiratory disease medicine produced by the Indian company Marion Biotech. According to AMIT Khovar, the country's State Security Service reported this on Telegram.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Health, a week ago began diagnosing the solution and tablets "Doc-1 Max" for respiratory diseases produced by the Indian company Marion Biotech, after which 18 children died.

"As a result of the use of the solution "Doc-1 Max" 18 children out of 21 who suffered from an acute respiratory disease died. The collected documents have been submitted to the law enforcement bodies," the report says.

The Ministry of Health pointed out that the drug and its solutions are currently withdrawn from sale in all pharmacies of the country.

The statement of the Service also said that laboratory tests revealed a toxic substance - ethylene glycol - in the composition of the drug. "Studies have shown that before admission to the hospital dead children used the drug in conjunction with other medicines for 2-7 days 3-4 times a day in 2.5-5 ml. "Naturally, this amount is significantly higher than the norm for children," the press service added.

Earlier it was reported that more than 200 children under the age of 5 died in Gambia and Indonesia after using the drug, which was also found to contain ethylene glycol.

What is it and is it available in pharmacies in Tajikistan?

According to the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, the drug "Doc-1 Max" is produced by the Indian company Marion Biotech, and the drug is sold in the country by "Quramax Medical" LLC.

Currently, the laboratory tests of these drugs, as well as a solution with the taste of honey and lemon, which are sold in pharmacies in Samarkand, continue. The service said that the results of the examinations will be published. The sale of the solution is also banned in Kyrgyzstan. This was reported by the press center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the reference to the Department of Medicines and Medical Devices, 24.kg. reports. The samples of drugs were sent for analysis to the Central Control and Analytical Laboratory. The publication notes that there were no reports of adverse reactions to "Doc-1 Max" from the relevant authorities of Kyrgyzstan. The drug was registered in Kyrgyzstan in 2018, the last importation was in 2021, it was not imported into the country in 2022.

Is Doc-1 Max available in Tajik pharmacies?

"Yes," the State Service for the Control of Medical Activities and Social Protection of the Population of the RT answered to AMIT Khovar's correspondent. Since 2002, a solution and tablets of Doc-1 Max, which came from India, have been sold in Tajikistan.

According to the head of the agency, Nurali Gulzoda, immediately after the cases of poisoning were registered in Uzbekistan, the employees of the service began operational and investigative work in this direction.

At the same time, the country's Ministry of Health urged parents to buy any pills and medical solutions in pharmacies only with a doctor's prescription.

Amit “Khovar”

translated

Ruzimuhammad Ismoilov