India's Ambassador to Uzbekistan: It Is for the Court to Rule on the Dok-1 Max Case

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — India's Ambassador to Uzbekistan Smita Pant, commenting on the Dok-1 Max case, stated that the matter is currently being addressed through judicial proceedings.

She noted that this is a legal process and that it is for the court to deliver its final assessment. Until the investigative and judicial procedures are fully concluded, it would be premature and inappropriate to make official comments or draw conclusions.

The Ambassador emphasized that the rule of law is a fundamental principle for the Indian side. In India, all processes are conducted on the basis of transparency and legality, and the judicial system delivers its rulings independently.

She also noted that every human life is of immeasurable value to India. The deaths of children as a result of this incident have been a profound tragedy for the Indian people as well, and every life lost is regarded as a grave human catastrophe.

At the same time, the Ambassador drew attention to the significant role of India's pharmaceutical industry in the global healthcare system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India supplied more than 301 million vaccine doses to 96 countries. Thanks to Indian generic medicines, the cost of HIV treatment was reduced from tens of thousands of dollars to approximately one hundred dollars.

India currently produces around 20% of all generic medicines worldwide, and Indian pharmaceuticals are exported to the markets of the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Australia. In terms of the number of manufacturing facilities outside the United States that meet US Food and Drug Administration standards, India ranks among the world's leaders. Through cooperation with UNICEF and other international organizations, millions of lives have been saved — which is why India is often referred to as the "pharmacy of the world."

In closing, Smita Pant stressed that the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector must above all serve the interests of people and cannot be viewed solely through the lens of business or profit. Human life and dignity, she said, take precedence over any other interests.

All Indian pharmaceutical companies are now required to comply with updated WHO Good Manufacturing Practice standards, which are designed to ensure that all companies follow standardized processes and maintain rigorous quality control.

It is worth recalling that the consumption of Dok-1 Max syrup led to the deaths of 68 children, with a further 16 suffering serious consequences and two sustaining minor harm. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against those responsible. The head of Quramax Medical LLC, the official importer of the drug, was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, and the former head of the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry, Sardor Kariyev, received an 18-year sentence.