Recall of Diurex tablets (January 18, 2012)
The Department of Health
(DH) today (January 18) instructed a licensed drug manufacturer,
Vickmans Laboratories Ltd (Vickmans), to recall from shelf a batch
(lot number: 110738) of Diurex tablets (registration number:
HK-51628) in view of a quality defect report.
"The DH came to learn of the problem while investigating a
public complaint about the detection of a plastic fragment embedded
in a Diurex tablet," a DH spokesman said.
"So far, this appears to be an isolated event. There is no
indication that other batches are affected and no report of a
related adverse incident has been received."
Investigation to date shows that the batch of Diurex tablets was
manufactured in Hong Kong last June. A total of 783 boxes of 500
tablets were supplied to various Hospital Authority hospitals,
private doctors and pharmacies.
Diurex, containing frusemide, is a diuretic used for the
management of hypertension. The drug is a prescription item and can
only be sold under the supervision of a pharmacist on presentation
of a doctor's prescription at a dispensary.
Vickmans has set up a phone hotline at 2726 0302 to answer
enquiries from the public.
"Here, contravention of the Public Health and Municipal Services
Ordinance (Cap 132), selling a drug not of the nature, substance or
quality demanded by the purchaser, might have occurred. The maximum
penalty involved is $10,000 and three months' imprisonment. As
investigation is still ongoing, the DH will seek advice from the
Department of Justice on completion of our work on how to take the
matter forward," the spokesman said.
"Meanwhile, members of the public who are taking the above
medicine should check their tablets before use. If in doubt, they
should consult their health-care providers," the spokesman
advised.
(Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201201/18/P201201180490.htm
)
