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Investigation by the Department of Health (DH) into a suspected case of syrup medicine containing isopropyl alcohol revealed that the four stock bottles of the syrup seized from the clinic of a private medical practitioner in Yat Tung Shopping Centre, Tung Chung on September 6, were suspected to be unregistered pharmaceutical products.
The suspected unregistered syrup medicine was found earlier by the Government Laboratory to contain chlorpheniramine (a drug for running nose and allergy) but isopropyl alcohol was not detected.
Further tests of the syrup by Government Laboratory showed that the concentration of chlorpheniramine ranged from 9.2mg to 9.9mg in 5ml.
A DH spokesman said the doctor concerned alleged that the syrup medicine was supplied by a local manufacturer. The manufacturerˇ¦s premises was inspected on September 6 and no unregistered pharmaceutical product was found.
Investigation is being conducted to ascertain the source of supply of the syrup in question.
In addition, remnant of the syrup medicine taken by the six-year-old boy, admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on September 5, was collected from the hospital and sent to Government Laboratory for further testing. Results today confirmed that it contained both chlorpheniramine and isopropyl alcohol.
Another two bottles of syrup medicine collected from other patients, who said that they had consulted the doctor concerned, were also found to contain both chlorpheniramine and isopropyl alcohol by Government Laboratory today.
As at today, DH has successfully contacted 25 of the 31 patients who had been prescribed with a transparent syrup for running nose and allergy by the doctor since August this year.
Of these 25 patients (including the six-year-old boy admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on September 5), six reported to have symptoms of throat irritation, nausea or vomiting after taking the syrup. The symptoms have subsided already. All the patients have been provided with health advice. Efforts by DH to contact the remaining patients are continuing.
The six-year-old boy has been discharged earlier today.
The hotline 2125 2727 set up by DH has so far received a total of 114 calls. Among them, 14 were reported to have received the prescribed syrup from the doctor. They have also been followed-up and given health advice.
The hotline will operate from 9am to 1pm tomorrow.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, possession and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products is an offence liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of $100,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.
Ends/Friday, September 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:52
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