Shahbaz Sharif orders confiscation of entire Tyno stock, raw materials

Punjab Chief Minister orders that samples of the syrup, and from patients should be sent to UK for testing.

LAHORE: As the deaths from Tyno cough syrup continued to mount, Punjab chief minister has jumped into action ordering relevant authorities to seize all available stock of the syrup and also all raw material used in its manufacturer.

In a handout issued from the chief minister’s secretariat, Shahbaz Sharif ordered that samples of the seized syrup be sent for tests to the UK and that further legal action will be taken after test reports are received.

Shahbaz further directed that samples of the syrup obtained from the patients should be immediately sent abroad for analysis so that the exact cause of the deaths could be ascertained determine who is responsible.

The chief minister directed the chief secretary that all the stock of the imported raw material being used for the preparation of syrup and the manufactured syrup should immediately be confiscated and he should personally monitor the process.

Shahbaz added that that an effective mechanism of checking of raw material and medicines is essential and that there should be an effective system of check and balance from the process of preparation of medicines to their distribution.

The Chief Minister issued these directions while presiding over a high level meeting in Model Town on Saturday in which the causes of deaths due to cough syrup in Gujranwala and Lahore were reviewed in detail. Special Assistant on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, Member Provincial Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Secretary Health, DG Forensic Lab and Health, Commissioner Gujranwala Division, Additional IG Special Branch and officers concerned attended the meeting. Chairman Chief Minister’s Inspection Team presented a report regarding deaths in Lahore.