Singapore firms alerted on China cough syrup mix-up

Health authorities in Singapore are currently warning local manufacturers to be extra vigilant after reports of 365 deaths in Panama after many people consumed tainted cough syrup from China.

Taixing Glycerine Factory, based in China, had substituted glycerine, a safe liquid with medicinal purposes, with doses of diethylene glycol. This is an industrial solvent that is highly toxic, used as a principal ingredient in antifreeze, employed in petrol/diesel engines

From Beijing, this syrup was shipped to Barcelona (Spain). IN the process, the manufacturer’s real name was altered during the analysis translation.

Fortunately, in Singapore, the Health Sciences Authority (HAS) reported that no case of diethylene glycol substitution had been discovered yet, and that the risk of such an occurrence was very low. However, they would still advise local manufacturers to exercise caution when purchasing raw materials (i.e. glycerin) for pharmaceutical production.

Reading this, one feels outrages at how companies, for the sake of money, are willing to risk human lives in exchange. IN fact, these incidents have occurred before, even in Singapore. Previously, medicines imported from China – Zhen Feng Da’s Xi Tong Wan, Wellring’s Yin Qiao Jie Du, both contained disallowed substances. Traces of indomethacin – a controlled drug advised to be consumed only under medical supervision, and paracetamol, were found to be present in the aforementioned medicines respectively.

To combat this rise of tainted drugs, manufacturers are required to comply with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and be licensed by the appropriate authorities before they can make the market. Clearly, as shown throughout the years, this action has rid Singapore of many bad drugs, mostly from China. However, some have still managed to slip through before, for example, in 2002, Slim 10 pills caused a woman’s death and another’s severe liver damage. This caused an uproar in Singapore. I certainly hope nothing of the sort will happen again.