The use of sub-standard Indian raw material has been unearthed in the cough syrup manufactured by the two different local drug manufacturing companies, Director General Health Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema said.
Talking to reporters at a consultative seminar on tobacco control held at a local hotel Monday, Cheema said that drug testing laboratory has detected the use of sub-standard Indian raw material in the manufacturing of cough syrup by two different drug manufacturing companies. Samples of cough syrup manufactured by two drug companies have been sent to a laboratory in London for more results.
Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema further said that initial probe about deaths of people reportedly on account of use of cough syrup has been completed and samples of cough syrup of two different local drug manufacturing companies have been dispatched to a laboratory in London for more results. To a query, he said cough syrup manufactured by these drug manufacturing companies has been confiscated from across the province.
It may be noted that so far over 40 people have lost their lives in different parts of Punjab province, including Lahore, Gujranwala and Toba Tek Singh after taking the 'poisonous' cough syrup. The victims reportedly consumed a cough syrup being sold under the name 'Dextromethorphan.' The substance dextromethorphan has been identified as an active ingredient in Tyno cough syrup.
Earlier, the provincial consultation on tobacco control unanimously recommended strict and effective implementation on 'Tobacco Control Laws' and called for necessary changes in the existing laws to bring it in compliance with the framework convention on tobacco control.
The consultative seminar on tobacco control was held at a local hotel Monday. Advisor to Chief Minister Ms Saba Sadiq, Special Secretary Health Babar Hayyat Tarrar, Director General Health Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema, representatives from district administration, social welfare and education department and World Health Organisation participated in the meeting.
Ms Saba Sadiq proposed that awareness lecturers and posters exhibition on tobacco use should be arranged in education institutions. She also appreciated the crackdown on "Sheesha Cafes" by district administration. She offered that a resolution be prepared which would be presented in Punjab Assembly for its approval.
Special Secretary Babar Hayyat Tarrar said that laws are available in Pakistan but implementation is very weak. He said that to implement the laws, it is necessary to create awareness among the people so they could abide by these laws. Shahzad Alam, the representative of WHO Islamabad, said that tobacco is the single greatest preventable cause of death in the world today, killing up to around six million people every year. He said that tobacco use continues to grow in developing countries including Pakistan due to steady population growth, low cigarette price, lack of awareness about its danger and aggressive tobacco industrial marketing efforts. He said that post devolution situation demands tangible steps to effectively implement the anti-tobacco laws and also to bring it in conformity with the provision of WHO framework convention on tobacco control.
The speakers pleaded for implementation of smoke free laws, introduction of rational pictorial health warnings, enforcement of comprehensive ban on tobacco promotion and sponsorship, raise tobacco prices/ taxation and allocating funds for the treatment of tobacco related fatal diseases as Pakistan has the cheapest cigarettes in the world and banning the sale of loose cigarettes.