The government has instructed pharmaceutical companies and drug dealers not to manufacture and sell medicines that contain hazardous components Ethylene Glycol and Di-ethylene Glycol compounds.
Expressing concerns over the health hazards caused by imported medicines having these hazardous components, the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has issued a public notice in this regard. According to the DDA, a number of medicinal products, which are imported from India, have been found to contain these harmful compounds. These medicines are mostly used for baby cures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also banned using these chemicals. According to the international organization, these chemicals can permanently damage the human kidneys causing the death of the users.
Promethazine Oral Solution, Coughex Mylene Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, Haryana, India, have been tested with the harmful substances. Since last month, the Indian government has also halted all production of the pharmaceutical company on charge of manufacturing fatal drugs.
According to the DDA, many Nepali drug manufacturers have also been importing raw materials like Propylene Glycol, Polyethylene Glycol, Sorbitol and Glycerin and Glycerol, among others, to prepare medicines. The regulator has asked the companies to manufacture their products only after making sure that these raw materials are free from contamination of Ethylene Glycol and Di-ethylene Glycol.
