KNH knocked syrups off its drug list 12 years ago

Dr M. Shah, who owns Jacaranda Chemists, argued that the studies done in the US do not adequately represent Kenya. He questioned the reason for the research.

Dr Shah said side effects are often inevitable, and that is why dosages are always given. “Sometimes it is the customer who does not listen when we are giving instructions,” he said.

However, the doctor added that if the Pharmacy and Poisons Board made a formal request, he would withdraw the medicines. Many parents were confused by the news on the popular medicine.

Ms Martha Muchiri, who was waiting for her niece to be admitted at the paediatric ward of Kenyatta Hospital, said had always been cautious when buying drugs for her children. She said she always took her children to hospital and only bought what the doctor had prescribed.

“I never go to the chemists and buys cough syrup without a prescriptions, only pain killers,” said the mother of five.

On Thursday, Dr Kimani, in a statement, urged parents and caregivers to ensure they consulted their doctors on the use of all cough and cold products in children. “Whereas hospitals are free to amend their stock of drugs, any removal of any medicine from their lists is an individual institutional decision,” the DMS said.

Dr Kimani said the syrups will be available for 6 to 12 year-olds but will only be sold in pharmacies with clear advice given. His Permanent Secretary, Prof Kiyiapi, had a different view, saying: “A majority of the cough syrups lack active compounds to heal coughs and only end up in suppressing the condition.

“At the same time, we are concerned that like other popular medicines, some might be counterfeits which could be harmful to those taking them,” he added. Dr Kimani explained that cough syrups do not cure or treat coughs, they only relieve symptoms.

Scientists in the United States of America have for the past two years questioned the effectiveness of the syrup and even suggested that it may have been responsible for some deaths among children.

In 2007, several drug makers, including Johnson and Johnson, Wyeth and Novartis, voluntarily withdrew cough and cold products labelled for infants over what they said were fears the medicines could be misadministered.

Two of Kenya’s top paediatrics hospital--Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital and the Aga Khan University Hospital--on Wednesday announced that they were withdrawing all cough syrups from their pharmacies for children aged 12 years.

On Thursday, the medical director of GlaxoSmithKline, Dr Willium Mwatu, said they did not sell cough and cold medicines for children less than two years old.

Dr Mwatu advised parents to buy cold and cough products after getting advise from qualified medical personnel and avoid overdosing. He said the drugs are safe to use.

On Thursday, the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya and other medical professionals are planning to meet to deliberate on what advice to give to the government, according to its chairman Dr Dominic Karanja.

He however asked the public not to panic because the drugs in the market are safe. “Parents should not panic because the drugs in our market are safe, however we shall be meeting with other medical professional bodies to discuss the merits of the studies and come up with a common position,” he said.