WHO urged to protect children from deadly medicines

The World Health Organization has called for "immediate and coordinated" action to protect children from tainted medicines following a spike in deaths linked to cough syrups in late 2022. Based on its reports, the WHO issued a global alert on the incidents, focusing on cases in the Gambia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan.

The statement said that over the past four months, countries have reported several adverse reactions to over-the-counter syrups in which standard levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol were found to be exceeded. This situation was observed in at least seven countries, three of which reported more than 300 deaths. Sadly, most of the dead were children under the age of five.

The above substances are poisonous, even in small quantities, can cause fatal consequences and should never be used in medicine.

The WHO Medical Device Alert has been issued to the national health authorities of all 194 member countries. The medical product warnings provide for the withdrawal of affected products from circulation as well as notifying WHO of toxic effects if these sub-standard products are found in the country.