Gambia kids' death: After DGCI's tentative clearance, Maiden pharma seeks factory reopening

Following Drugs Controller General of India VG Somani's letter to WHO that said there has been no direct causal relation established yet between the cough syrup consumption and the deaths of Gambia kids, Haryana based Maiden Pharmaceuticals is now seeking clearance to reopen its factory.

Maiden's MD Naresh Kumar Goyal told Reuters that his company did nothing wrong and now they look forward to requesting the authorities to let them reopen the factory.

In the letter, Somani said the samples of four made-in-India cough syrups linked to the deaths of 66 children in Gambia which were tested in government laboratory here were found to be complying with specifications and not to have been contaminated with DEG or EG according to the test reports.

Also watch: Maiden Pharma: Cough syrup maker has WHO's Good Manufacturing Practices certification

Health authorities had halted production at the unit in October after the WHO suspected its link with the deaths.

(With agency inputs)