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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority announced today (April 22) that due to fungal contamination of the asperigillus species found in two batches of diuretic drug (Frusemide 40 mg) manufactured by Vickmans Laboratories Limited, public hospitals will launch a comprehensive recall and arrange drug replacement for public hospital patients from tomorrow (April 23) afternoon.
The HA spokesman said the pharmacy of Kennedy Town Jockey Club Clinic under the Hong Kong West Cluster reported to HA Head Office on 15 April through the routine drug quality monitoring mechanism of an incident in which black spots were found on some tablets in a bottle of diuretic drug (Frusemide 40mg). The concerned batch no. is 81540. The Clinic immediately suspended dispensing the bottle of drug.
Upon receiving the concerned drug samples on April 20, HA Head Office immediately conducted an investigation to test the samples. Furthermore, a random check on other batches of Frusemide 40 mg has also been carried out. It was found out that some tablets of another batch no. 81539 also had black spots. According to initial findings, the black spots were confirmed as contamination by fungal species asperigillus. The Department of Health was notified on April 21 for the necessary follow up.
In response to the decision of the Department of Health, as well as to ensure patients' safety, HA decided to stop dispensing, recall and replace all batches of Frusemide 40mg supplied by Vickmans for public hospital patients. The drug replacement service for the 43,000 concerned patients will start at 2:00pm tomorrow (April 23) and will last for two weeks until May 6. The daily operating hours is from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm from Mondays to Sundays, including public holidays. Patients concerned are required to bring along their Identity Card or a copy of the ID card and the drug bag labelling "FRUSEMIDE 40MG" (as appended photo) to the pharmacy of 15 designated public hospitals for replacement. The replacement does not require any prior booking or medical consultation. Depending on clinical needs, concerned patients will be dispensed with the replaced dosage of two weeks. Patients with mobility problem can ask others to replace the drug for them by providing the aforementioned documents.
A hotline 2125 1122 has been jointly set up and operated by the Department of Health and HA to take enquiries from the public and the patients concerned.
Due to the possible risk of asperigillus species for those immuno-compromised patients who are under active treatment for bone marrow transplant, leukaemia and lymphoma, HA has specifically reviewed all the patient records and identified around 90 high risk patients prescribed with Frusemide. HA will contact these patients for drug replacement with priority and conduct clinical assessment for them.
The list of pharmacy of the 15 designated public hospitals for drug replacement is as below:
Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
Caritas Medical Centre
Kwong Wah Hospital
North District Hospital
Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital
Princess Margaret Hospital
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Prince of Wales Hospital
Pok Oi Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Queen Mary Hospital
Tseung Kwan O Hospital
Tuen Mun Hospital
United Christian Hospital
Yan Chai Hospital
Ends/Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:05
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