The trial of "Doc-1 Max" syrup, alleged to be responsible for the tragic deaths of 65 children in Uzbekistan, resumed at the Tashkent City Court on criminal cases following a brief hiatus. The latest courtroom session on September 6 featured a startling revelation by one of the defendants, identified as S.S., who vehemently denied the charges against him and raised concerning questions about the handling of the crisis.
S.S., the former head of the "State Center for Expertise and Standardization of Medicines, Medical Devices, and Medical Equipment," was among the 21 defendants facing charges related to the "Dok-1 Max" syrup. In a bold statement before the court, he declared his innocence, stating,
"I think that this accusation is groundless, and therefore I declare that I do not confess to these accusations, and that I am ready to present sufficient evidence with my defense counsel to justify myself."
The defendant defended his professional conduct during his tenure at the State Center, asserting that he had diligently carried out his responsibilities, eschewing any favoritism towards businessmen and always upholding professional ethics. He claimed that his monthly salary was adequate, leaving no room for unethical practices.
Moreover, S.S. shed light on a significant development in the case, highlighting that various adverse reactions had been observed in patients who had consumed "Dok-1 Max" tablets and syrup purchased from pharmacies in Samarkand. He emphasized that these incidents occurred prior to the patients' arrival at the Children's Multidisciplinary Medical Center in the region, a fact established by the chief physician.
The defendant raised a pressing question about the delay in reporting these incidents, pointing out that the Children's Multidisciplinary Medical Center had sent a letter to the Regional Health Department on December 15, 2022, alerting them to the poisonings and deaths resulting from "Dok-1 Max" syrup two months earlier. He asked,
"Why did they not inform the Ministry of Health about this for two months? If they did, why didn't the ministry inform the responsible organizations about it in October 2022? Didn't come out with the appeal? In order to find answers to such questions, I ask to summon the officials of the Health Department of Samarkand region to the court."
The controversy surrounding "Dok-1 Max" first emerged in December 2022 when reports of various side effects among patients who had taken the medicine from Samarkand pharmacies began circulating on social media. The chief physician of the network medical center revealed that within the last two months at that time, 21 individuals had reported complaints after consuming the medicine, with 17 children in critical condition, of whom 15 tragically lost their lives.
Subsequently, a team of experts, including specialists from the Agency and the State Center for Expertise and Standardization of Medicines, Medical Products, and Medical Equipment, was formed to investigate the situation and determine its causes. "Dok-1 Max" tablets and syrup, produced by India's Marion Biotech Pvt., were subjected to rigorous examination, prompting a temporary suspension of their sale from December 22, 2022. Notifications were also dispatched to organizations managed by Quramax Medical LLC.
Earlier Daryo reported that the mice that consumed the syrup also experienced fatalities, leading to the conclusion that the syrup indeed contained poisonous substances.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Threads pages to keep up to date on world news.
Comments (0)