The Ministry of Health on Thursday, December 5, issued a notice to the public, recalling a cancer drug that has been used in the past for injection purposes.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board(PPB) notice directed all health practitioners and dispensing pharmacies to immediately halt the use and sale of the Flustrated 500 (5-Fluorouracil) Injection.
‘’The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (“the Board”) orders the quarantine of Flurasted 500 (5-Fluorouracil) Injection Batch No. HHP24017 Manufactured by Halsted Pharma Private Limited, India,’’ the Pharmacy and Poisons Board announced in a statement.
According to the board, the decision to recall the drug follows complaints logged at its offices about its appearance, which has since been a confusion.
A photo of the Flurasted 500 (5-Fluorouracil) Injection Batch No. HHP24017 recalled by the government on a shelf.
IndiaMart
”The quarantine order is being issued due to a market complaint on the appearance parameter of the content. Flurasted 500 (5-Fluorouracil) Injection is used in the management of cancer,’’ the notice added.
Flurasted 500 (5-Fluorouracil) Injection Batch No. HHP24017 is a cancer medication used in the treatment of various types of cancer, particularly for chemotherapy. Additionally, the active ingredient, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), is a chemotherapy drug that interferes with the growth of cancer cells, and it’s commonly used to treat cancers like colon, breast, and stomach cancer.
Consequently, health practitioners have been directed to immediately stop the use of the drug on their patients as the board works on the means of withdrawing it from the shelves.
”In light of this, the Board advises all pharmaceutical outlets, healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals, and members of the public to immediately quarantine the product batch and stop the further distribution, sale, issuance, or use of the affected batch,” it added.
Members of the public have also been advised to report any suspected cases of substandard drugs to any nearest facility for immediate action.
The recall comes against the backdrop of yet another one issued by the board on November 22, of two nasal drops through a public alert statement.
”The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has mandated the recall of Efinox 1% w/v Batch No.82979 and Efinox 0.5% w/v Batch No. 82978 manufactured by Laboratory and Allied Ltd, Kenya,” read the statement.
The Board stated that there was a mixup in the labelling and packing process of the two medicines that resulted in a disparity in the power of both drugs. As a result, this deemed the drugs unsafe for usage.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni during a past event
Mary Muthoni