Toxic cough syrup kills 16 in Lahore
Three drug stores and a pharma unit shut down, owners arrested.
LAHORE:
Authorities in the provincial capital shut down a pharmaceutical factory and three drug stores more than 72 hours after a toxic cough syrup claimed at least 16 lives, officials said on Monday.
The deaths occurred in the Shahdra Town neighbourhood between Friday and Sunday with the victims mostly drug addicts who took the syrup, named Tyno, to get high.
The scandal follows the deaths of around 100 heart patients who took the faulty medicine that had been made locally.
The Punjab Health Department has imposed a ban on Tyno, which is manufactured by Reko Pharmacal Lahore. According to a Health Department spokesperson, all drug inspectors have been issued immediate instructions to drop the existing stock of Tyno and ensure a blanket ban on its sale.
According to the police, some of the victims were found dead in a graveyard where addicts used to routinely assemble and take different kinds of drugs. Seven others died in the hospital.
The Punjab government has shut down three drug stores and arrested their owners.
Punjab Health Adviser Khawaja Salman Rafiq said the syrup would be confiscated from all pharmacies, adding that inspectors had shut down a drug factory and sent samples to a laboratory for detailed analysis.
“Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry and a report will be submitted to him within 72 hours,” Rafiq said.
An official of the Health Department said that so far 151 places had been raided to seize stocks of the poisonous syrup. He added that murder case has been registered against the pharmaceutical company and the pharmacy owners who sold the syrup.
Dr Tahir Khalil at the Mayo Hospital said 20 victims aged 15 to 45 had been admitted after drinking the syrup and most had a history of addiction.
“Six people were saved and were discharged after treatment, while seven others were still admitted to hospital,” he said.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2012.
Authorities in the provincial capital shut down a pharmaceutical factory and three drug stores more than 72 hours after a toxic cough syrup claimed at least 16 lives, officials said on Monday.
The deaths occurred in the Shahdra Town neighbourhood between Friday and Sunday with the victims mostly drug addicts who took the syrup, named Tyno, to get high.
The scandal follows the deaths of around 100 heart patients who took the faulty medicine that had been made locally.
The Punjab Health Department has imposed a ban on Tyno, which is manufactured by Reko Pharmacal Lahore. According to a Health Department spokesperson, all drug inspectors have been issued immediate instructions to drop the existing stock of Tyno and ensure a blanket ban on its sale.
According to the police, some of the victims were found dead in a graveyard where addicts used to routinely assemble and take different kinds of drugs. Seven others died in the hospital.
The Punjab government has shut down three drug stores and arrested their owners.
Punjab Health Adviser Khawaja Salman Rafiq said the syrup would be confiscated from all pharmacies, adding that inspectors had shut down a drug factory and sent samples to a laboratory for detailed analysis.
“Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry and a report will be submitted to him within 72 hours,” Rafiq said.
An official of the Health Department said that so far 151 places had been raided to seize stocks of the poisonous syrup. He added that murder case has been registered against the pharmaceutical company and the pharmacy owners who sold the syrup.
Dr Tahir Khalil at the Mayo Hospital said 20 victims aged 15 to 45 had been admitted after drinking the syrup and most had a history of addiction.
“Six people were saved and were discharged after treatment, while seven others were still admitted to hospital,” he said.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2012.