The Ministry of Health ordered the closing down of a pharmaceutical company accused of selling faulty drugs, which have killed four infants and medically poisoned 30 others, after they were being treated for dehydration.
The infants were reportedly taken by their parents to three different hospitals in Beni Suef. The infants were suffering fever and stomach pains. After they were administrated a dose of an intravenous rehydration solution, their condition worsened and they were transferred to the public hospital.
The incident took place over the course of three days, since Saturday. An emergency committee of childcare experts from the Health Ministry had been sent to Beni Suef, after identifying Al-Motahedoun as the pharmaceutical company that manufactured the drug and provided it to the local distributor.
Al-Motahedoun Pharma Company had denied manufacturing any products carrying that name in statements to Daily News Egypt on Monday. Shortly after, the ministry issued a statement correcting the drug name to “Metahydreel” intravenous solution.
The drug caused the infants to have spasms, although only two of the deceased were reportedly administered the suspected drug. Meanwhile, the ministry added that all the company’s products should be instantly withdrawn from the pharmaceutical market.
It also reminded companies of the laws and regulations for producing medical goods according to specific standards approved locally and internationally by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The statement said that the company used previous ministerial approvals to produce additional quantities of the drug.
The case has been referred to investigations by the Prosecutor General’s office.
