An Indian national, along with 22 others, faced the judgment of a court in Uzbekistan, resulting in a 20-year prison sentence for their involvement in the deaths of 68 children who consumed contaminated cough syrup in December 2022. The tragic incident implicated the Uttar Pradesh-based pharmaceutical company, Marion Biotech, which manufactured the cough syrup.
Singh Raghvendra Pratar, an executive director at Quramax Medical, a firm distributing medicines manufactured by Marion Biotech in Uzbekistan, received the longest prison term of 20 years. The defendants were found guilty of various charges including tax evasion, sale of substandard medicines, abuse of office, negligence, forgery, and bribery.
Additionally, the court ordered compensation of 80,000 US dollars (1 billion Uzbek sums) to be paid to each family of the 68 deceased children, along with designated compensation for four children who suffered disabilities. This compensation will be collected from seven of the convicted individuals, as per the court's directive.
The tragedy unfolded when 86 children fell ill after consuming the cough syrup Dok-1, manufactured by Marion Biotech. Among them, 68 tragically lost their lives. The incident prompted investigations by both Indian and Uzbekistani authorities, leading to a series of legal actions against those responsible.
Following the incident, Indian drug authorities initiated a probe into the matter, eventually resulting in the cancellation of Marion Biotech's manufacturing license by Uttar Pradesh authorities in March 2023. Additionally, three employees of Marion Biotech were arrested by UP Police, and a lookout notice was issued for two of its directors.
The investigation revealed that samples of Marion Biotech's cough syrups were found to be adulterated and not meeting quality standards. Subsequently, legal proceedings ensued, culminating in the recent sentencing of the Indian national in Uzbekistan after a seven-month-long court process.
The case underscores the importance of stringent quality control measures in pharmaceutical manufacturing and the need for accountability in cases of negligence resulting in public health tragedies. As legal proceedings continue, efforts to ensure justice for the victims and prevent similar incidents in the future remain paramount.
