April 03, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 2: The Ministry of Health has directed all hospitals in the country to stop using German Heparin injections after a global recall by its manufacturer, Rotexmedica, because of reported allergic reactions, officials said on Wednesday.

The ministry has advised the hospitals to use Heparin injections manufactured by other producers, but under strict observation. The action has been taken as a preventive measure, because none of the batches imported and used in Pakistan has caused any adverse reactions.

Heparin is an injectable blood thinner frequently used in kidney dialysis, open heart surgeries and for treating blood clots.

The injections are imported from Germany, China and Korea, pharmaceutical suppliers in Rawalpindi said.

A supplier revealed that thousands of viles of the recalled injection was in hospitals throughout the country. However, he said, they were not being used.

So far only 5,900 viles have been returned by hospitals in the NWFP.

Apparently, the Chinese ingredients for German Heparin caused the reaction, which reportedly resulted in a few deaths in the United States, although in those cases Heparin came from another manufacturer, Baxter International.

Authorities in the US and Germany are investigating reports about some counterfeit ingredients from China used in the injections.

The Chinese link to the problem with German Heparin is a cause of concern as Chinese pharmaceutical companies are major suppliers of the injections to Pakistan. The use of Chinese Heparin is still allowed.A World Health Organisation alert on Heparin said: Germany and United States have detected a contaminant in Heparin active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and crude heparin sourced from China, which is a Heparin-like compound, but it is not Heparin. Injections with this contaminant have been associated with serious adverse reactions.

The reactions, reported so far, have included lowered blood pressure, shortness of breath and an elevated heart rate.