The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has confirmed that all cough and cold syrups available locally are fit for use.
This confirmation comes following fears that contaminated medical products may have trickled into the country.
Moreover, PPB released the statement after World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, October 6, linked the deaths of 66 children in Gambia due to kidney failure, owing to contaminated cough and cold syrups made by Mumbai-based drugs manufacturer Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
PPB noted that WHO has established that the medical products in question; Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup, contain high levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol which when consumed in large amounts can turn poisonous.
“We reassure the public that there is no cause for alarm as the cough preparations (syrups) and promethazine products in the Kenyan market meet market authorization requirements on quality, safety, and efficacy as laid out by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board,” the statement by PPB released on Friday after receiving a medical product alert from WHO regarding the said medicines read.
Also Read: WHO Probing Indian Cough Syrup After 66 Children Die in the Gambia
Furthermore, PPB said the WHO alert only applies to the products in Gambia which they insist are presently not available in the local market.
“The WHO alert is specific to medical products manufactured by Malden Pharmaceuticals (Haryana, India), and not any other manufacturing sites,” noted the Board.
Nevertheless, PPB has asked Kenyans to be on the lookout for faulty medical products and to forward any reports on the same to them.
“Members of the public are however advised to be vigilant at all times and report any suspected poor-quality medicines or adverse drug reactions to the nearest healthcare facility and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board through its website, official email or by using the USSD code *271#,” noted PPB.
