*********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 9) announced that public hospitals and clinics have immediately suspended the dispensing of Augmentin powder for syrup 156mg/5ml (HK-24658) manufactured in France by GlaxoSmithKline Limited (GSK) in accordance with the recall ordered by the Department of Health (DH). HA will provide patients with the same class of drug from other supply sources to ensure normal patient services.
After consulting experts in toxicology and paediatrics, HA advised patients dispensed with the drug not to stop using the drug abruptly. As a precautionary measure, HA will start contacting patients who have been prescribed the drug (see attached photo) to return to the clinics for exchange of the drug. Patients in doubt can also bring the affected drug and enquire at their respective hospital or clinic pharmacies. According to records, there are around 400 patients who have been prescribed with the drug and still have it on hand.
HA will be in close liaison with the DH and will follow up with GSK on the issue.
Ends/Thursday, June 9, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:26
NNNN
