The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) for its efforts to detect drugs containing toxic chemicals.

The MFDA banned some of the liquid drugs manufactured by Pakistani pharmaceutical manufacturer Pharmics Laboratories Pvt Ltd last month after analyses highlighted that they contained toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

The WHO said in a statement yesterday that the MFDA had shown exemplary efforts with limited resources in identifying contaminants 'diethylene glycol' and 'ethylene glycol' in liquid drugs manufactured by Pharmix Laboratories Ltd. The MFDA detected the presence of the substances in the drugs using "three-layer chromatography (TLC)," the WHO said.

If children consume even small amounts of the substances found in the Pakistani company's drugs, there could be serious health risks, the organization said. The drugs were being used in four other countries besides Maldives, the WHO said.

WHO Representative Dr. Nazneen Anwar said the MFDA’s efforts stand as a sign of success in tackling global health challenges and urged health regulators to continue their efforts and report substandard products in their respective countries, as soon as possible.

All products of the Pakistani company, which used toxic chemicals, have been banned from importing, selling and using in Maldives.