The license of the Samo pharmaceutical company, which produces the Antistrumin iodine drug, has been temporarily suspended In Uzbekistan. This was reported by the press service of the Center for Safety of Pharmaceutical Products under the Ministry of Health.
The center, who launched a probe the activities of the enterprise, found that Samo “committed a gross violation of the law.” In December 2023, Uzpharmcontrol filed a lawsuit to revoke the company’s license.
The trial in this case was suspended on January 19, 2024 at the request of the defendant in connection with the investigation of the criminal case initiated in connection with the mass poisoning of children in Namangan.
“To prevent threats to the life and health of the public,” the center requested the Zangiata Interdistrict Economic Court to suspend the license until a final court decision is made.
On March 7, the court temporarily suspended the license issued to Samo on March 30, 2020.
Hospitalization of children
On September 21, 2023, it became known that at least 71 children were hospitalized in the Namangan province (later it was reported that 450 children fell ill). Parents linked this with taking the Antistrumin drug as part of the iodization program.
On September 22, the Ministry of Health introduced a ban on the use of Antistrumin produced by Samo until the investigation is completed. The Andijan province governor’s office reported the hospitalization of 12 children who took Antistrumin.
However, later Deputy Minister of Health Elmira Basitkhanova stated that “suspicions of food or medicine poisoning had not yet been confirmed.” She noted that children may have some type of flu.
A criminal case was launched regarding the hospitalization of the children.
