Deaths in The Gambia and contaminated medicines imported from India

That this House is dismayed by the death of more than 60 children in The Gambia from acute kidney problems believed to be linked to the use of contaminated paracetamol syrups imported from India, which were subsequently subject to a medical product alert by the World Health Organisation (WHO); notes the WHO, relevant Indian authorities, and the Indian pharmaceutical company believed to be responsible are undertaking an investigation, with the manufacturing activities of the latter having been suspended; notes also that the Gambian authorities have ordered all cough and cold syrups in circulation in the country to be recovered; is deeply concerned that India’s drug regulatory laws are currently inadequate and that the country lacks a unified pharmaceutical regulator; is alarmed by reports that Gambian officials did not act quickly enough when deaths were first reported and did not test the imported drugs to ensure their quality before sanctioning their use; calls on the Indian and Gambian Governments to ensure affected families receive justice, to include the prosecution of those responsible and payment of compensation; and, asks the UK Government to support efforts by Gambian authorities to improve its quality control over imported medicines and foods.