Nationwide probe of tainted drugs and drug industry

Source Xinhua | May 20, 2006, Saturday |

Print Edition

CHINESE Premier Wen Jiabao has ordered government departments to launch a thorough probe into a fake drug incident, which claimed five lives.

The government also has ordered a comprehensive check of all pharmaceutical plants in China.

"Those directly responsible for the incident and those who fail to fulfill their supervision duties will be punished," said Wen, who also ordered officials to track down and seal the fake drugs around the nation to prevent further harm.

In response to his instruction, a joint investigation work group will head for northeast China's Heilongjiang Province today to investigate the case.

The investigation team consists of officials from the Ministry of Supervision, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Health and the State Food and Drug Administration.

"The team will work with the provincial government to find out the cause of the incident as fast as possible, penalize criminals in accordance with law and severely punish relevant people," said a member of the investigation work group.

He said results of the investigation will be made public in due time.

A total of 11 people have fallen victim to the fake Armillarisin A injection made by the Qiqihar No. 2 Pharmaceutical Co Ltd in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Five have died.

The government has shut down the plant and banned sale and use of all medicines by the plant.

Meanwhile, China has launched a comprehensive check of pharmaceutical plants nationwide after a fake drug caused the death of five people.

"Drug administrations should immediately launch comprehensive checks of raw materials purchased, management of materials and examination of finished products of pharmaceutical plants," the State Food and Drug Administration said.

According to an investigation, Qiqihar purchased one ton of "propylene glycol" from drug salesman Wang Guiping, now in custody, in September 2005 as auxiliary material for producing the Armillarisin A Injection.

The "propylene glycol" delivered by Wang, however, actually was diglycol, an industrial material which causes acute kidney failure if taken by humans. The company's quality inspectors failed to discover the problem.

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Nationwide probe of tainted drugs and drug industry

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