The public has been urged to be vigilant regarding three medicines manufactured by three Indian companies, as they contain a toxic substance. In a press statement, the Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) said that the South East Asia Region Network had alerted the Authority that three cough syrups manufactured by three Indian companies contain a toxic substance, and therefore, the use and sale of these medicines have been prohibited. The MFDA stated that these three companies are not authorized by the Authority to import medicines. Therefore, the Authority assures that no medicines manufactured by these companies have been imported into the Maldives.
However, as neighboring India is a country where many Maldivians travel for medical treatment, and in some instances, medicines are imported from India for personal use, the MFDA has urged caution regarding this matter. The MFDA stated that it is undertaking extensive efforts to ensure the safety of medicines imported into the Maldives, especially to address the current issues identified in medicines given to infants and young children. In this regard, the MFDA highlighted that significant efforts are currently underway to ensure that children’s cough and cold syrups being imported do not contain ‘Diethylene Glycol’ and ‘Ethylene Glycol’ chemicals.
The MFDA has requested that anyone requiring further information on this matter contact the Authority’s hotline at 7200321.
