Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has asked 9 pharmaceuticals companies to recall Valsartan medicine manufactured by them because the raw material imported from China were contaminated which may cause cancer.
The raw material was purchased from Chinese company Zheijiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals which also delivers the product to European companies.
After testing UK drug authority found it contaminated with N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). NDMA is known to be carcinogenic, which means it can cause cancer.
Dil Ke Amraaz Mein Istimal Honay Wali Medicine “VALSARTAN” Ki Farokht Per Pabandi, Mulk Bhar Ki Medicine Companies Ko Dawa Banane Se Rok Diya Gaya, Market Main Moujood Medicine Ko Bhi Fori Wapis Lenay Ki Hidayat: Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP)
— Awami Web (@AwamiWeb) July 14, 2018
Many countries in the European Union are recalling the medicines containing Valsartan supplied by the Chinese company.
The pharmaceuticals companies from Pakistan which purchased Valsartan from Zheijiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals are:
- M/s Amarant Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd
- M/s Efroze Chemical Industries
- M/s High-Q Pharmaceuticals
- M/s Pharm Evo (Pvt) Ltd
- M/s Safe Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd
- M/s Sami Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd
- M/s Tabros Pharma (Pvt) Ltd
- M/s Searle Pharmaceuticals
- M/s Genetics Pharmaceuticals
Recall Alert
Stop Using & prescribing Valsartan by any of following companies. pic.twitter.com/3wDUuVi1lf
— Nishtarians (@Nishtarians1) July 16, 2018
In Pakistan there is no mechanism to check the quality of imported drugs or raw material, DRAP only tests the final product.
But now people are questioning the role of DRAP which failed to stop the supply of Valsartan products despite the fact that raw material was contaminated.
Attention (ALERT)!
Audience: Healthcare Professionals, Public
PDCU Punjab has issued an Alert regarding the recall of Valsartan containing medicines. To check if Valsartan medicine is safe or not please read in detail to follow https://t.co/Ixiz68654n#Recall #Valsartan pic.twitter.com/DxPnqB65FY— PDCU Punjab (@PDCU_Punjab) July 16, 2018
Valsartan is used to control blood pressure of heart and cardiac patients.
Due to similar failure 200 people from Punjab died in 2012 after using contaminated drug by PIC pharmacy.