11:30 pm
Monday, January 23, 2023
Geneva – (dpa)
The World Health Organization on Monday called on health authorities to conduct more robust drug checks after life-threatening cough medicines for children appeared in at least seven countries.
The World Health Organization said counterfeit medicines or medicines that do not meet safety standards should be identified and withdrawn from circulation.
In the past months, at least 300 children have died in three countries after consuming over-the-counter cough syrup. And those medicines contained toxic substances such as industrial solvents or antifreeze, which can be fatal even in small amounts.
The WHO did not say which countries were affected, but the organization had already issued warnings about similar incidents in Gambia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan.
