In response to rising concerns about imported medicines, Gambia’s police stated on Saturday that they were opening an investigation into the deaths of dozens of children.
Police announced in a statement that they were adding senior officers to the inquiry after 66 children died, the majority of whom suffered from acute kidney failure.
India is looking into a local pharmaceutical company’s cough syrups after the World Health Organization suggested they could be responsible for the deaths.
President Adama Barrow authorised the health authorities “to suspend the license of the suspected… importer” involved in the case, his office said on Saturday evening.
The foreign ministry was to communicate “his government’s most profound concern” to the Indian embassy, it added.
On Friday, Barrow pledged to strengthen health policies, including greater quality control over imported medicines.
He said the government would leave “no stone unturned” to get to the bottom of the incident.
In light of potential connections between the deaths and four cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India, the WHO issued an alert on Wednesday.
