The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has clarified that it has recalled all samples of a sub-standard cough syrup which was being sold in the Kenyan market.
Speaking in Nairobi, the Board’s deputy director (Product safety), Dr Antony Toroitich yesterday identified the sub-standard cough syrup as Benylin paediatic 100 mls Batch No 329304.
“This cough syrup is manufactured by Johnson&Johnson (Pty), South Africa—and was recalled due to quality concerns arising from unacceptable high levels of diethylene glycol detected through laboratory analysis conducted by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),”.
Dr Toroitich observed: “Diethylene glycol is a contaminant which is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal…
“Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.”
At the same time, Dr Toroitich announced that similar quality tests on the recalled 45,000 bottles of cough syrup which is being undertaken by the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS) on behalf of the Board will be released in due course.
Dr Toroitich was speaking during a Media sensitisation on pharmacovigilance workshop held at Nairobi’s Pan Afric Hotel.
The meeting—which was co-organised by the Board in conjunction with USAID Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) programme—assembled health and science journalists drawn from various media houses.
A Board official, Dr Martha Mandale assured the public that the PPB had established mechanisms to ensure that medicines supplied to the Kenyan market met the required quality, safety and efficacy standards.
“We encourage the public 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,”.
Members of the public were urged to report any suspected poor-quality medicines to the following channels:
https://pv.pharmacyboardkenya.org/users/mpublic,
Mobile application: mPvERS both android & iOS and
USSD code: at *271# or
Email; pms@ppb.go.ke Tel No. 0795743049.
