Cyclosporine de-listed

23 December 2011 05:50 pm

The Health Ministry today prohibited the use and prescription of Cyclosporine, a drug given to kidney patients as the drug has failed quality assurance, a ministry spokesman said.
 
Ministry spokesman, W.M.D. Wanninayaka said the Ministry has instructed hospital directors island wide to withdraw the drug, which is an Indian product, from hospital shelves. Ministry spokesman, W.M.D. Wanninayaka said the Ministry has instructed hospital directors island wide to withdraw the drug, which is an Indian product, from hospital shelves.
 
“The drug Cyclosporine produced and exported by Alrita Pharma, India and given to patients after kidney transplant to prevent the rejection of the new kidney did not pass the quality tests and was not up to the expected minimum standard," he said.
 
The preliminary medical tests have revealed that the system of patients after kidney transplantation has failed to absorb the drug properly, he added.
 
After learning about the substandard drug, health Minister Maithripala Sirisena instructed officials to advise hospital directors to return the drug to the Medical Supplies Division (MSD). The Ministry advises the private medical institutions not to use the substandard drug, Mr. Wanninayaka said. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)