[Read in full with photo: https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/exclusive--gambia-tightens-rul... ]
[photo caption] 'Grieving parents hold up signs during a news conference, calling for justice for the deaths of children linked to contaminated cough syrups, in Serekunda, Gambia, November 4, 2022. In October 2022, the deaths of more than 70 Gambian children from Acute Kidney Injury were linked by global health officials to cough syrups made in India and contaminated with ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG). REUTERS/Edward McAllister/File Photo'
'NEW DELHI, June 20 (Reuters) - Gambia will make it mandatory for all pharmaceutical products from India to be inspected and tested prior to shipment from July 1, according to Gambian government documents reviewed by Reuters, the first known restrictions on national exports following the deaths of dozens of children linked to Indian-made cough syrups.
'The new rule highlights how governments are reassessing their reliance on India's $42 billion pharmaceutical industry since the contamination came to light last year. India's industry supplies nearly half of the pharmaceuticals used in Africa. In April, India’s government said its officials had held meetings in Africa to ensure its drug exports did not suffer after at least 70 children died in Gambia after ingesting the cough syrup last year.'
Mulenga Lwansa
HIFA profile: Dr. Mulenga is a Zambian Pharmacist with over 24 years work experience in 4 different sub-Saharan Countries. He is a strong believer in UHC and Health Information for All. He hosts a radio show on Patient safety which is very well received in the communities. Piloted the first ART in Namibia 2001.Have worked in the Management Sciences for Health, Namibia and the UNDP/GFTAM South Sudan. He posses a Dual MPH/Ph.D Pharmacovigilance, USA and a B.Pharm, USDM. Email: lwansa@yahoo.com He is a HIFA Country Representative http://www.hifa.org/support/members/mulenga
